In a significant move to bolster their strategic partnership, Japan and India have decided to enhance their collaboration across security, economic resilience, and advanced technology sectors. This decision was reached during a summit involving Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, held in New Delhi. The leaders reiterated their dedication to maintaining a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region and voiced concerns over economic coercion and activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
To fortify their economic ties, both countries committed to strengthening supply chains, particularly in crucial sectors like semiconductors and critical minerals. A noteworthy development from the discussions was the signing of 129 memorandums of understanding between Japanese and Indian companies. These agreements cover investments totaling approximately ¥2 trillion ($12.4 billion), targeting industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automotive manufacturing, and advanced technologies.
The countries also plan to expand their defense cooperation by intensifying joint military exercises and enhancing collaboration on naval vessel maintenance and defense equipment development. An important aspect of this partnership will be a “two-plus-two” meeting involving the foreign and defense ministers from both nations, slated for later this year.
On the technology front, Japan and India aim to significantly advance their cooperation in artificial intelligence. This includes a goal to bring 500 Indian AI specialists to Japan by 2030, a move intended to facilitate joint research and innovation, underscoring the growing collaboration in emerging technologies.
These developments between Japan and India underscore a shared vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, as both nations work to counter regional challenges while enhancing their strategic and economic connectivity.