New Delhi, August 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need to strengthen the strategic and global partnership between India and Japan. This statement came during a meeting with Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who is on an official visit to India.
During the meeting, PM Modi recalled his recent discussions with Japan’s Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, Sanae Takaichi, at the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit held in July. He praised the increasing momentum in defense cooperation between the two nations.
Following the meeting, PM Modi took to social media platform X, stating, “It was a pleasure to meet Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. We had excellent discussions on deepening defense and security relations between India and Japan. Our special strategic and global partnership serves as a crucial foundation for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
PM Modi also shared his vision for further enhancing the India-Japan strategic partnership, emphasizing the importance of defense and security cooperation in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting, “The Prime Minister highlighted opportunities for Japan to partner with Indian companies and startups in the defense sector, particularly for co-development and co-production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.” Minister Koizumi informed the Prime Minister about the progress made in bilateral defense cooperation and reiterated Japan’s commitment to deepening ties with India.
Earlier in the day, Koizumi met with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. After their discussions, he expressed his determination to translate their talks into tangible outcomes.
He stated, “At the end of the meeting, Defense Minister Singh placed his hand on my shoulder and expressed happiness, saying, ‘This was a very fruitful meeting.’ We have been able to initiate a new beginning in Japan-India defense cooperation. Moving forward, I will make every effort to convert today’s discussions into concrete results to strengthen our personal trust.”
In a joint statement released after the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of assessing the regional and international security environment amid rising global tensions. They also firmly opposed any unilateral actions that disrupt navigation and flight freedom and any attempts to change the status quo through force or pressure.
Recalling the joint statement issued in July 2026, both Singh and Koizumi reiterated their commitment to deepening defense cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific under their leadership.
The two ministers agreed to enhance operational cooperation in maritime security in practical and effective ways. Accordingly, they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime security cooperation.
The joint statement noted, “This memorandum provides a framework for furthering cooperation between the two countries in the field of maritime security. Specifically, it includes information sharing in the area of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and strengthening cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy. Additionally, it provides for enhancing collaboration in areas such as Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).”
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