Japanese, Indian Foreign Ministers Meet in Tokyo; Cooperation on Defense, Security Reaffirmed

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:07 JST, March 8, 2024

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday in Tokyo and confirmed their shared intention to strengthen cooperation in defense and security toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

They agreed to promote cooperation on defense equipment and technology as well as expanding cooperation in new areas such as space and cyber.

Establishing a new forum for bilateral dialogue was also agreed in order to promote joint support for the development of third countries.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, Kamikawa emphasized the importance of the relationship between the two nations. “Japan places particular importance on the relationship with India, which has a unique history of democracy and is one of the leaders in the Global South,” she said.

Jaishankar responded by saying that there is great potential for India-Japan cooperation, mentioning issues such as the development of the Global South and the strengthening of supply chains.