What was Discussed in the Meeting Between Indian Envoy and Japanese Defence Minister?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India and Japan are strengthening defence ties.
- Focus on Indo-Pacific stability.
- Joint commitment to combat terrorism.
- Ongoing dialogues reflect a strategic partnership.
- Recent events highlight the need for collaboration.
Tokyo, July 4 (NationPress) Sibi George, India's Ambassador to Japan, met with General Nakatani, Japan's Defence Minister, on Friday to discuss strategies aimed at strengthening India-Japan defence cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region.
During their meeting, Minister Nakatani welcomed the Indian Ambassador for a courtesy visit and the two leaders exchanged perspectives on advancing the Japan-India Defence Cooperation Initiative (JIDIP) in the Indo-Pacific. Japan's Ministry of Defence shared via X, “We will continue to work closely with India.”
The defence and security alliance between India and Japan stands as a crucial foundation for their bilateral relationship. Recent years have seen enhanced exchanges in defence, propelled by a shared strategic vision and an understanding of the importance of peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In May, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged in bilateral discussions with Minister Nakatani in New Delhi, where both officials reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening defence relations and addressing regional security challenges, including terrorism.
According to a statement from the Japanese Ministry of Defence post-meeting, Minister Nakatani emphasized the increasing significance of fostering defence cooperation between Japan and India. He stated, “Given the evolving regional and international landscape, it is essential for us to enhance our collaboration for the sake of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
The ministers acknowledged the necessity of creating substantial synergy in the Indo-Pacific by bolstering collaborative defence initiatives between their countries.
Minister Nakatani proposed advancing collaboration as 'Japan-India Defence Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region' (JIDIP/IJDIP), to which the Indian Defence Minister responded positively, indicating his readiness to discuss the matter further.
They both agreed on the importance of working together to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
This meeting occurred shortly after a tragic terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the loss of 26 innocent lives.
Minister Nakatani expressed his solidarity with India regarding the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed Japan's commitment to combat terrorism in partnership with India and the global community.
The long-standing friendship between India and Japan has gained significant momentum since the elevation of their collaboration to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014, culminating in a firm commitment from both sides to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.