Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, on October 28, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The two Defence Ministers reviewed progress in bilateral defence cooperation since their meeting in August and explored new avenues to expand collaboration across maritime security, naval shipbuilding, air force cooperation and defence industry partnerships.
Maritime Security and Naval Cooperation in Focus:
Both sides welcomed progress in discussions on practical maritime security cooperation, including enhancing mine countermeasure capabilities and exploring the possibility of joint development in naval shipbuilding and design. The proposed collaboration aims to combine Japan’s technological expertise with India’s production capabilities.
The visit of the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy to Japan has also contributed to advancing discussions on maritime cooperation.
Boost to Air Force Co-operation:
The Ministers also reviewed efforts to deepen cooperation between the two air forces following the first-ever visit of Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircraft to India for the India-Japan air exercise Veer Guardian 26. The visit of Japan’s Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defense Force, conducted in conjunction with the exercise, further supported bilateral engagement.
Defence Industry Partnership Gains Momentum:
The successful India-Japan Defence Industry Forum, held at the Embassy of India in Tokyo with around 40 companies from the two countries participating, marked another step towards expanding industrial collaboration and exploring new defence-sector opportunities.
The two Ministers also agreed to accelerate discussions on convening the fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (2+2) and the Japan-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo later this year.
Following the meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on X that the discussions had explored new avenues to strengthen the bilateral partnership. He underlined that the shared commitment of India and Japan remains vital to maintaining a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific.
The latest engagement highlights the continued focus of both countries on strengthening defence ties, expanding industrial cooperation and advancing their shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
