Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (August 20) bid farewell to his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi with a warm "Arigato" in Japanese, drawing a "Namaste" in response. The exchange came after the India-Japan Defence Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, where both sides discussed ways to deepen defence cooperation ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">India&#39;s Rajnath Singh bids farewell to Japan&#39;s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Japanese, gets a warm &quot;Namaste&quot; in return . . . .<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Japan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japan</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/IndiaJapanDiplomacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaJapanDiplomacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/VuztqopY9Y">pic.twitter.com/VuztqopY9Y</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://x.com/WIONews/status/2090411442638111157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier, Singh held bilateral talks with Koizumi in the national capital. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in key areas, including maritime security and the Indo-Pacific region.<h3>India, Japan deepen maritime security cooperation</h3>The two ministers reaffirmed their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and exchanged views on the regional and international security situation amid ongoing global tensions.&nbsp;Both sides also opposed unilateral attempts to alter the status quo affecting navigation rights. The joint statement said, "The two Ministers concurred on deepening operational cooperation in the field of maritime security practically and effectively."&nbsp;Singh welcomed Japan's recent review of its framework for defence equipment and technology transfers. He also expressed hope that Tokyo would make a greater contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.&nbsp;"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed Japan's recent review of its framework for the transfer of defence equipment and technology, and expressed his expectation that Japan would further contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the wider world," the joint statement stated.&nbsp;The two ministers also signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation. The agreement will create a structured framework for cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.&nbsp;"The two Ministers affirmed that they would strengthen coordination between both sides for the protection of Sea Lines of Communications through mutual visits by naval ships and units, joint exercises, personnel and Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchanges and logistical support, including use of ports, maintenance and repair facilities," the statement noted.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-interest-in-it-at-all-north-korea-on-trump-s-scaled-back-drills-with-south-korea-1787229117290">'No interest in it at all': North Korea on Trump's scaled-back drills with South Korea</a><h3>India, Japan explore defence production</h3>India and Japan will explore opportunities for joint development in naval shipbuilding and design by combining Japan's technological expertise with India's production capabilities, in line with their respective policies.&nbsp;The two sides also stressed the importance of using their respective strengths in defence shipbuilding and continuing discussions on integrating India's manufacturing capabilities under the "Make in India" initiative.&nbsp;"With a view to further advancing cooperation among the Services of the two countries, the two Ministers concurred on promoting exchanges between their respective Special Operations Forces and pursuing cooperation with India's integrated theatre commands following their establishment," the joint statement read.&nbsp;The ministers also discussed the shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna system. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to carrying forward the initiative, which marks the flagship defence equipment transfer project between the two countries.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi agreed to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation while exploring joint shipbuilding and technology initiatives, with their meeting ending on a warm "Arigato" and "Namaste" exchange.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (August 20) bid farewell to his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi with a warm "Arigato" in Japanese, drawing a "Namaste" in response. The exchange came after the India-Japan Defence Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, where both sides discussed ways to deepen defence cooperation ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi agreed to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation while exploring joint shipbuilding and technology initiatives, with their meeting ending on a warm "Arigato" and "Namaste" exchange.

Watch: 'Arigato' meets 'Namaste' as Rajnath Singh bids Japan's defence minister farewell

India and Japan have unveiled a 16-point roadmap to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, signalling a major expansion of cooperation beyond traditional trade and investment. Announced after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, the roadmap places economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), resilient supply chains and clean energy at the centre of bilateral ties.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also released three key policy documents covering economic security, AI cooperation and energy resilience, alongside a series of agreements across emerging technologies, mobility, critical minerals and financial services.<h2>What is the 16-point roadmap?</h2>The roadmap outlines a broad framework for cooperation across strategic sectors that both countries consider essential for future economic growth and national security.According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, economic security will now serve as a foundational pillar of the partnership. The two sides said their cooperation is based on "mutual trust, shared values and aligned interests", while recognising that their economic prosperity and security are increasingly interconnected.&nbsp;The initiative also reflects growing concerns over economic coercion, arbitrary export restrictions and non-market practices that can disrupt global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals and strategic industries.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">List of outcomes (16 in total) : Meeting between PM <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and PM <a href="https://x.com/takaichi_sanae?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@takaichi_sanae</a> of Japan on her Official Visit to India ⬇️ 🇮🇳 🇯🇵 <a href="https://t.co/jgxHibuxVW">pic.twitter.com/jgxHibuxVW</a>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2072618844334838114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Which sectors will receive priority?</h2>The roadmap identifies five priority sectors under the economic security partnership.Semiconductors: India and Japan will work to diversify semiconductor supply chains, strengthen manufacturing, research, chip design and skill development, while encouraging greater participation of Japanese firms in India's Semiconductor Mission 2.0.&nbsp;Critical minerals: Both countries will expand technical cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and Japan's JOGMEC. They also plan to develop an ecosystem for e-waste recycling to improve the recovery of critical minerals.&nbsp;Information and communication technology: Cooperation will include 5G Advanced, Open RAN, data centres, submarine cables, AI infrastructure and standards for beyond 5G and 6G technologies. A Track 1.5 Economic Security Dialogue involving governments, industry and experts will also be launched.<h2>AI collaboration central to the partnership</h2>Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the biggest pillars of the roadmap.India and Japan agreed to build a safe, secure, trustworthy, inclusive and human-centric AI ecosystem. Their cooperation will cover the entire AI technology stack, including secure digital infrastructure, semiconductors, GPUs, compute resources, multilingual and open-source AI models, cybersecurity, AI governance and public sector applications.&nbsp;Several institutional partnerships were also announced. IIT Bombay's BharatGen Technology Foundation will collaborate with Japan's National Institute of Informatics on multilingual scientific large language models. Sarvam AI and Preferred Networks will jointly develop foundational AI models, while the IndiaAI Mission and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will support AI startups and innovation.&nbsp;Recognising India's growing AI talent pool, both governments reaffirmed their target of bringing 500 highly skilled Indian AI professionals to Japan by 2030 through expanded research, internships and industry partnerships.<h2>Partnership to strengthen energy security</h2>India and Japan also adopted a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience aimed at improving cooperation in strategic petroleum reserves, crude oil stockpiling, maritime energy transport and clean energy.&nbsp;The two countries will exchange best practices on emergency response systems, reserve management and stockpiling while exploring joint investments across maritime energy transport value chains.&nbsp;The summit also launched the India-Japan Cooperative Biogas for Growth Initiative, under which Japan will support the establishment of 1,000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across India using dairy cooperative networks.&nbsp;Beyond biogas, both countries agreed to promote hydrogen and ammonia projects, strengthen battery supply chains, encourage cooperation in solar and nuclear energy, and expand collaboration in international carbon credit trading.<h2>What other agreements were signed?</h2>The summit produced agreements across several strategic sectors.India and Japan signed a memorandum on trusted battery supply chains, strengthened cooperation on pharmaceutical supply chains for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Key Starting Materials, and agreed to deepen collaboration in geological exploration of critical minerals.&nbsp;The Next Generation Mobility Partnership will expand cooperation in railways, automobiles, aviation, shipbuilding, logistics, ports and urban infrastructure while promoting India as a global manufacturing hub.&nbsp;Both countries also signed agreements in biotechnology, internet governance and financial regulation, covering deep tech research, internet security, IPv6 adoption, FinTech and RegTech.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, unveiled three key policy documents on economic security, artificial intelligence and energy resilience after delegation-level talks in New Delhi.

India and Japan have unveiled a 16-point roadmap to deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, signalling a major expansion of cooperation beyond traditional trade and investment. Announced after the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi, the roadmap places economic security, artificial intelligence (AI), resilient supply chains and clean energy at the centre of bilateral ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also released three key policy documents covering economic security, AI cooperation and energy resilience, alongside a series of agreements across emerging technologies, mobility, critical minerals and financial services. What is the 16-point roadmap? The roadmap outlines a broad framework for cooperation across strategic sectors that both countries consider essential for future economic growth and national security. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, economic security will now serve as a foundational pillar of the partnership. The two sides said their cooperation is based on "mutual trust, shared values and aligned interests", while recognising that their economic prosperity and security are increasingly interconnected. The initiative also reflects growing concerns over economic coercion, arbitrary export restrictions and non-market practices that can disrupt global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals and strategic industries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, unveiled three key policy documents on economic security, artificial intelligence and energy resilience after delegation-level talks in New Delhi.

WION Decodes | India-Japan 16-point roadmap on economic security, AI, energy resilience

India and Japan have deepened defence ties through high-level dialogues, security agreements, and joint exercises, including Dharma Guardian, JIMEX, Malabar and Veer Guardian. Recent cooperation includes JMSDF's Yudachi, MILAN 2026, and UNICORN Mast technology transfer.

India and Japan have deepened defence ties through high-level dialogues, security agreements, and joint exercises, including Dharma Guardian, JIMEX, Malabar and Veer Guardian. Recent cooperation includes JMSDF's Yudachi, MILAN 2026, and UNICORN Mast technology transfer.

From blue waters to desert sands: All about India-Japan military ties and defence agreements

india-japan-defence-ties

India Japan Defence Ties, News on India Japan Defence Ties, stories on India Japan Defence Ties, articles on India Japan Defence Ties, India Japan Defence Ties stories at Wion, India Japan Defence Ties news, India Japan Defence Ties latest news

india japan-defence-ties

Watch: 'Arigato' meets 'Namaste' as Rajnath Singh bids Japan's defence minister farewell

India-Japan 16-point roadmap on economic security, AI, energy resilience

India-Japan military ties: Know all key exercises and defence agreements