India and Japan strengthen maritime ties with new defence cooperation agreement

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation in New Delhi on Thursday, establishing a framework for closer operational ties between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy.

The arrangement covers Maritime Domain Awareness, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, while also strengthening coordination for protecting Sea Lines of Communications through reciprocal naval visits, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, and logistical support including access to ports and maintenance facilities.

Indo-Pacific focus amid regional tensions

During their bilateral talks, the two Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepen defence cooperation under the "Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership" and work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific amid heightened global tensions. Both sides expressed strong opposition to unilateral actions that impede freedom and safety of navigation and overflight, and to attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

Shipbuilding and technology collaboration

India and Japan will pursue greater cooperation in mine countermeasures and explore joint development in naval shipbuilding and design by leveraging Japan's technological expertise and India's production capabilities. The two sides will discuss greater use of India's shipbuilding capabilities under the "Make in India" framework and work towards reciprocal provision of ship repair facilities.

The Ministers identified the shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna system as a symbol of their growing defence equipment partnership and committed to its early realisation. India's DRDO and Japan's ATLA will deepen cooperation in advanced defence technologies, while a Defence Industry Forum will also be convened.

Expanded military exercises

The Ministers welcomed the expansion of bilateral military exercises, including Dharma Guardian and JAIMEX, and the planned Veer Guardian 26 air exercise, in which Japanese fighter aircraft will participate in India for the first time. The two sides agreed to enhance the complexity of bilateral exercises, integrate unmanned systems and explore short-notice joint exercises.

The two countries will promote exchanges between their Special Operations Forces and pursue cooperation with India's integrated theatre commands after their establishment. Defence Minister Singh welcomed Japan's recent review of its defence equipment and technology transfer framework, seeking deeper defence and technology cooperation.

The Ministers agreed to establish a Working Group, headed at the Director-General/Joint Secretary level, to coordinate cooperation across operational, intelligence, equipment, technology and industrial domains. They also agreed to accelerate discussions for the fourth India-Japan "2+2" Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, to be held in Tokyo this year.

Source: The Hindu