Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
– Japan and India agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of outer space and cyber during security talks
– They plan to update a 2008 declaration on security cooperation and possibly finalize it when Indian Prime Minister Modi visits Japan
In a joint statement issued after “two-plus-two” talks involving the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and India in New Delhi, it was agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of outer space and cybersecurity. The update and signing of a 2008 declaration on security cooperation is expected to be finalized when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan. This cooperation comes at a time when both countries are ramping up security efforts in response to China’s assertiveness in the region. They also emphasized the need for peaceful dispute resolutions and refraining from using force to change the status quo. The joint statement also highlighted their commitment to the Quad and continued exercises among defense forces of both countries and other Quad members. The plan for Tokyo to export naval communication antennas for Indian warships, known as Unicorn, marks potential progress under a Japan-India agreement on defense equipment and technology transfer signed in 2015. The ministers also expressed the intention to revise the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to reflect contemporary priorities and address current security challenges facing the two countries. Japan and India have been building closer ties based on a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, in response to challenges from China. India’s role as a leading power among emerging and developing economies, combined with Japan’s emphasis on relations with such countries, has brought the two nations closer together. India’s membership in the BRICS forum and its friendly relations with Russia, even after the invasion of Ukraine, are also key factors in shaping their cooperation.
