India and Japan sign maritime security memorandum

India and Japan signed a memorandum on maritime security cooperation after their defence ministers met in New Delhi on Thursday, August 20, as the two governments said they would deepen defence ties in the Indo-Pacific.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks and signed the memorandum, according to a joint statement.

The statement said the ministers affirmed a commitment to deepen defence cooperation to realise a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and said such cooperation was important for the region and the international community.

The ministers also said the countries should explore joint development in naval shipbuilding and design, combining Japanese technological expertise with Indian production capabilities under India’s “Make in India” initiative.

Both countries are members of the Quad security grouping with the United States and Australia. Koizumi’s visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, when the two sides agreed to work more closely on critical minerals.

After that July meeting, Takaichi warned that Japan and India faced challenges including “weaponisation of the economy and non-market policies and practices”. China’s foreign ministry later said international cooperation should not harm third parties or serve as a pretext for exclusive cliques or confrontation.