Representative image showing India and Japan's national flag.
Credit: iStock Photo
New Delhi: India and Japan will hold a 2+2 dialogue involving the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence in New Delhi on Tuesday, followed by a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Kihara Minoru to “further deepen defence cooperation” between the two nations.
“During the bilateral talks and 2+2 meeting, the ministers will review the cooperation and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements between the two countries. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” a Defence Ministry spokesperson said here.
Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will host Minoru and Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa for the third edition of the 2+2 talks almost two years after the last one was held in September 2022 in Japan.
The top level discussions between the two strategic partners comes at a time when the Indo-Pacific is in a volatile situation due to the ongoing West Asian conflict and China expanding its military footprint in the Indian Ocean region, much to the discomfort of its Asian neighbours.
“A strengthened India-Japan defence partnership is vital for ensuring a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific in the prevailing global environment,” the spokesperson said in a statement with an oblique reference to China.
Officials say defence has emerged as one of the most important pillars between New Delhi and Tokyo based on the “shared values of democracy, freedom and rule of law.”
The two sides may also sign a deal on the supply of a Japanese radar for Indian warships, according to a report in Nikkei Asia earlier this week. If the deal materialises, it will be only the second time Japan will export military equipment to another country after a radar system they provided to the Philippines last year.
The India-Japan talks will be followed by the Malabar naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal involving the Quad countries in October. The 28th edition of the maritime drill will focus on advanced anti-submarine warfare.