Japan PM’s upcoming India visit signals deepening India-Japan strategic convergence

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi, June 26. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to India from July 1 to 3 for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit comes at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty in the Indo-Pacific and increasing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Tokyo. As Takaichi undertakes her first official visit to India after assuming office, the summit is expected to reinforce one of Asia’s most important strategic partnerships.

“The summit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release on June 26. “This would be the first official visit of Prime Minister Takaichi to India. This visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tokyo in August 2025 for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit and reflects the shared commitment of the two countries to further enhance India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Strategic partnership anchored in the Indo-Pacific

India and Japan have transformed their ties over the past two decades from a predominantly economic relationship into a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing defence, security, technology, connectivity and regional diplomacy. The relationship was elevated to a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014 and has since emerged as a central pillar of both countries’ Indo-Pacific strategies.

For both nations, maintaining a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific has become a shared strategic objective. The growing assertiveness of China in the East China Sea, South China Sea and along the Himalayan frontier has pushed New Delhi and Tokyo towards closer strategic coordination.

The upcoming summit is therefore likely to focus heavily on maritime security, freedom of navigation, supply chain resilience and regional stability.

Defence and security cooperation gains momentum

Defence cooperation has become one of the fastest-growing dimensions of bilateral ties. The two countries conduct regular military exercises involving their armies, navies and air forces and have institutionalised security consultations at multiple levels.

The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement signed in 2020 has facilitated logistical cooperation between their armed forces, while Japan has become a permanent participant in the Malabar naval exercise alongside India, the US and Australia.

The summit could witness further discussions on defence industrial cooperation, military technologies, cyber security, space security and emerging domains such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.

The China factor

Although neither India nor Japan officially frames its partnership as being directed against any third country, concerns regarding China’s military expansion, coercive economic practices and increasing strategic footprint across the Indo-Pacific provide an important backdrop to bilateral cooperation.

Japan views India as an indispensable balancing power in the Indian Ocean, while India sees Japan as a key partner in East Asia. The convergence of their strategic outlook has strengthened cooperation through minilateral mechanisms such as the Quad.

Economic relations need fresh momentum

Japan remains one of India’s largest sources of foreign direct investment and official development assistance. Japanese investments have played a transformative role in India’s infrastructure modernisation, particularly in transport and urban development.

Flagship projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor have become symbols of the partnership. Japanese support has also contributed significantly to metro rail projects, industrial corridors and logistics infrastructure across India.

However, bilateral trade has not kept pace with the strategic partnership and remains below its potential. Both governments are expected to explore ways to increase trade volumes, encourage greater Japanese manufacturing investment in India and strengthen supply chain diversification efforts.

The two sides are also likely to focus on semiconductors, critical minerals, green technologies and digital infrastructure as future growth sectors.

Supply chain resilience and economic security

The disruptions caused by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have accelerated efforts by both countries to reduce excessive dependence on single-country supply chains.

India and Japan have already collaborated through initiatives such as the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative with Australia. Takaichi’s visit could lead to greater cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing, battery technologies, rare earth processing and advanced manufacturing.

For Japan, India offers a large market and an alternative manufacturing destination. For India, Japanese capital and technology remain essential for industrial upgrading and infrastructure development.

Cooperation in emerging technologies

Technology cooperation is increasingly becoming a strategic priority. Areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, telecommunications, biotechnology, clean energy and digital public infrastructure are expected to feature prominently during the summit.

The two countries are also likely to expand cooperation in trusted telecommunications networks and next-generation industrial technologies as they seek to reduce vulnerabilities in critical technologies.

Japan’s development partnership in India’s Northeast

Japan has emerged as one of the most important external development partners in India’s northeastern region, financing and supporting projects ranging from roads and bridges to water supply, forestry, healthcare and urban infrastructure. What began as conventional development assistance has gradually evolved into a strategic partnership that aligns India’s Act East Policy with Japan’s vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The Northeast today occupies a central place in India-Japan relations because of its dual importance: it is both a development priority for New Delhi and a strategic gateway connecting India with Southeast Asia.

Connectivity and the Global South

India and Japan have collaborated extensively on connectivity initiatives across South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa. Their cooperation in third countries offers an alternative development model based on transparency, sustainability and local ownership.

Tokyo’s expertise in quality infrastructure and India’s developmental experience in the Global South create complementary strengths that can be leveraged in the Indian Ocean region and beyond.

Nuclear and energy cooperation

The civil nuclear agreement that entered into force in 2017 represented a major milestone in bilateral relations, particularly given Japan’s traditionally cautious approach to nuclear cooperation.

Energy security, clean energy technologies, hydrogen, ammonia and renewable energy cooperation are expected to emerge as major areas of engagement in the coming years as both countries pursue decarbonisation goals.

Political significance of Takaichi’s visit

The visit will provide an opportunity for Prime Minister Takaichi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish personal rapport and set priorities for the next phase of bilateral relations.

The summit is also expected to send a broader geopolitical signal regarding the commitment of both countries to strengthening partnerships among major democracies in the Indo-Pacific.

With strategic competition intensifying across Asia, India and Japan increasingly view each other not merely as partners but as indispensable stakeholders in shaping the future regional order.

The India-Japan relationship today extends far beyond economics or diplomacy. It has evolved into a multidimensional strategic partnership that spans security, technology, infrastructure, connectivity and global governance.

Prime Minister Takaichi’s first visit to India is therefore expected to serve not only as a review of bilateral progress but also as an opportunity to chart the direction of one of the Indo-Pacific’s most consequential partnerships for the coming decade.