India and Japan Strengthen Defence Ties, Focus on Interoperability

India and Japan held crucial talks on Friday to deepen their military cooperation, with a particular focus on enhancing the interoperability of their armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani, on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Laos.

The discussions centred on reciprocal provision of supplies and services, along with joint participation in bilateral and multilateral military exercises. Both sides reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation, agreeing to enhance collaboration in co-production and co-development within the defence manufacturing sector.

The two leaders also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain. This comes after India and Japan signed an agreement in September 2020 to facilitate closer ties between their armed forces, including joint peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, and training activities.

In addition, Singh met with the defence ministers of the Philippines and the US, discussing expanded cooperation in various domains, including counter-terrorism, maritime security, and industrial collaboration.
India's proactive role in strengthening defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific aligns with its commitment to a rules-based international order for regional peace and stability.