‘Enhancing India-Japan defence equipment & tech cooperation key priority areas’
New Delhi. India has proposed engagements in emerging and critical technological domains with Japan as enhancing the defence equipment and technological cooperation between the two countries is a priority area, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Tokyo on September 8 after the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
“Enhancing the defence equipment and technological cooperation between India and Japan is one of our key priority areas. In our meeting today, I had the opportunity to propose engagements in emerging and critical technological domains. I have also invited the Japanese defence companies to look at opportunities in investing in the Indian Defence Corridors,” Rajnath Singh said in a statement after the Dialogue, in which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also participated.
“During the course of our discussions today, we covered a wide spectrum of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. As two thriving democracies in Asia, we are pursuing a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. This year is significant for both India and Japan, as we are celebrating 70 years of establishment of our diplomatic relations. This is an important relationship for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.
During the discussions, the two sides noted the progress in the military-to-military cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. “We shared a common desire to further increase the scope and complexities of our bilateral exercises. We have established staff talks and high-level dialogue between all the three Services and the Coast Guard,” the statement said.
“I am glad that we have now agreed on Staff Talks between the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces and the Integrated Defence Staff of India. The participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN and operationalization of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement in March this year are milestones in the progress of defence cooperation between our Forces. We are happy to note that our Air Forces are working closely for early conduct of the inaugural Air Force fighter exercise,” the statement said.
The two sides also held extensive discussions on ways to enhance maritime cooperation including Maritime Domain Awareness. “There is consensus on both sides that a strong India-Japan relationship is very important for a free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) shares many commonalities with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India has also developed maritime cooperation with regional partners in consonance with our inclusive vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR),” the statement said.
Noting that India’s relationship with ASEAN has emerged as a key cornerstone of New Delhi’s foreign policy, the statement said that through ADMM Plus, both India and Japan “are working together with ASEAN and other Plus countries for strengthening cooperation across domains including maritime security, HADR, Peace Keeping Operations etc”.
