Tokyo, 9th Sept 2022:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh alongwith External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has visited Japan for the Bilateral 2+2 meetings. During the course of discussions, both the ministers had wide spectrum of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest with Japan. Being the two thriving democracies in Asia, both India & Japan are pursuing a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. This year is significant for both India and Japan, as both the nation are celebrating 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.
India & Japan discussed on the progress in the military to military cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. Talks were also made to further increase the scope and complexities of bilateral exercises.
Both the nation established staff talks and High-level dialogue between all the three Services and the Coast Guard and they agreed on Staff Talks between the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces and the Integrated Defence Staff of India. The participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN and operationalization of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement in March this year are milestones in the progress of defence cooperation between the two forces..
The Defiance Minster said,“ Enhancing the Defence Equipment and Technological Cooperation between India and Japan is one of our key priority areas. In our meeting today, I had the opportunity to propose engagements in emerging and critical technological domains. I have also invited the Japanese defence companies to look at opportunities in investing in the Indian Defence Corridors.”
The Minster further said,“ We held extensive discussions on ways to enhance maritime cooperation including Maritime Domain Awareness. There is consensus on both sides that a strong India-Japan relationship is very important for a free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) shares many commonalities with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India has also developed maritime cooperation with regional partners in consonance with our inclusive vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).”
India’s relationship with ASEAN has emerged as a key corner stone of the foreign policy. Through ADMM Plus, both India and Japan are working together with ASEAN and other Plus countries for strengthening cooperation across domains including maritime security, HADR, Peace Keeping Operations etc.
