Japan and India Agree to Establish Defense Cooperation Body... Joint Efforts to Counter China

Defense Ministers of Both Countries Hold Talks in India

Japan and India have agreed to establish a new consultative body to coordinate bilateral defense cooperation and to expand joint military exercises. This move is seen as an effort to keep China in check as it seeks to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to local media outlets such as the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on May 6, Kenta Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, who is currently visiting India, held talks with Rajnath Singh, Indian Defense Minister, in New Delhi on the 5th (local time) to discuss measures for bilateral cooperation.

Rajnath Singh, Indian Defense Minister (left), and Kenta Nakatani, Japanese Defense Minister, shake hands before the bilateral defense ministers' meeting held on the 5th (local time) in New Delhi, India. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The two sides agreed to establish a consultative body to coordinate cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the Indian military, and to expand joint exercises. They also decided to cooperate on anti-piracy measures to ensure the safety of maritime transport routes. Defense equipment was also discussed, with India requesting Japanese support in areas such as fighter jets and tank engines.

During the talks, Minister Nakatani presented the concept of "Japan-India Defense Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific" (JIDIP) and emphasized the importance of security cooperation between the two countries.

After the meeting, he told reporters, "India is a very important country as it sits at the center of the maritime transport route connecting Japan with the Middle East and Africa."

Local media reported that the meeting aimed to promote regional stability by strengthening cooperation between Japan and India, at a time when the outlook for U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific region remains uncertain and regional instability is increasing.

The Yomiuri Shimbun cited the threat from China as the background for the Japanese government's desire to strengthen security cooperation with India, but also noted, "India is a member of BRICS, a group of emerging economies led by China and Russia, while pursuing a policy of balanced diplomacy."

Japan and India, together with the United States and Australia, are members of the Quad, a security consultative group focused on countering China. Both countries, along with other Quad members, are working to strengthen maritime exercises and curb China's maritime expansion.