India, Japan deepen defence ties with maritime security pact as China challenge looms
India and Japan have signed a maritime security agreement to strengthen defense cooperation and information sharing in the Indo-Pacific region. The partnership aims to counter regional challenges while aligning Japan's technological expertise with India's 'Make in India' manufacturing initiative.
Why it matters
The deepening defense ties reflect a strategic shift in the Indo-Pacific to maintain regional stability amidst rising geopolitical tensions with China.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjirō Koizumi held a bilateral dialogue in New Delhi. Koizumi is on his maiden visit to India and the visit is seen as an expansion of the 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' between the two countries, which is gaining importance in light of an assertive China across the Indo-Pacific region. The special strategic partnership, which was formalised in 2014 has continuously been strengthened by the leadership of the two countries, with PM Modi visiting Japan eight times. The strategic relationship has been anchored by shared democratic values and a common vision for a free and open Indo‑Pacific. During the meeting the defence minister of both the nations signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) on maritime security cooperation.
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