India-Japan welcomes the steady strengthening of defence cooperation,

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi today.

The two Ministers welcomed the steady strengthening of defence cooperation, including cooperation among the respective Ministries and the Services of the two countries that share strategic perspectives, under the “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, which constitutes one of the pillars for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Recalling the Japan-India Joint Statement issued by the leaders of the two countries in July 2026, the two Ministers affirmed their commitment, under their leadership, to further deepen defence cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two Ministers concurred on the importance of sharing assessments of the regional and international security environment between the two countries at a time of heightened global tensions. They expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that impede freedom and safety of navigation and overflight, as well as to any attempts to change the status-quo by force or coercion.(UPDATED ON 20TH AUGUST 2026)