In a significant move to bolster their bilateral partnership, Japan and India have decided to enhance collaboration in security, economic resilience, and advanced technologies. This development emerged from a summit held between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The leaders underscored their shared commitment to a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region and voiced concerns about economic coercion and activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
The summit concluded with an agreement to fortify supply chains, focusing on strategic sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals. Both nations are keen on expanding their defense ties, which will see an increase in joint military exercises and cooperation on naval vessel maintenance and defense equipment development. A significant upcoming event is the “two-plus-two” meeting, involving foreign and defense ministers from both countries, slated for later this year.
On the economic front, the summit resulted in the signing of 129 memorandums of understanding between Japanese and Indian companies, outlining investments worth approximately ¥2 trillion ($12.4 billion). These agreements span various sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automotive manufacturing, and other advanced technologies, marking a substantial deepening of economic ties between the two nations.
Furthermore, the two countries have set their sights on enhancing cooperation in artificial intelligence. A key initiative in this area is the plan to bring 500 Indian AI specialists to Japan by 2030. This move is aimed at supporting joint research and innovation efforts and signifies the growing collaboration between Japan and India in emerging technological fields.