Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya successfully concluded  Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue on September 2, 2019, in Tokyo. Both ministers affirmed to hold first Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) before commencement of Japan-India Annual Summit later this year. aim of this initiative will be to vance co-operation towards peace and prosperity in Indo-Pacific region. Both countries ackwledged progress in negotiations on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). Furrmore, y h a discussion on security situation in Korean Peninsula and South China Sea. y also welcomed stey increase in bilateral co-operation in area of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).  

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Military exchanges between India and Japan 

first joint exercise between Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Indian Army was held in autumn of 2018. Focusing on counter-terrorism, it was named ‘Dharma Guardian’. ministers ted that preparations for second exercise were well underway and that, it was fast becoming a regular exercise. Similarly, y lauded vanced level of bilateral exercises between  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Indian Navy. Welcoming second Japan-India-United States of America trilateral mine-countermeasures exercise (MINEX) conducted in July 2019, y mentioned that y were looking forward to Japan-India-US trilateral maritime exercise ‘Malabar 2019’ to be held from late September to early October this year.  

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Both leers intended that two nations will participate in multilateral exercises as observers. ‘SHINYUU MAITRI 18’, first bilateral exercise conducted between Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and Indian Air Force took place in December 2018. JASDF also participated in Indo-US bilateral exercise ‘Cope India’ as an observer. ministers pledged to increase Air Force-to-Air Force engments, including fighter aircraft co-operation.  

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Co-operation in Defence Techlogy 

It was ted that re was a regular exchange of students between  National Institute of Defence Studies and JASDF Staff Colleges of Japan, and National Defence College and  Defence Services Staff College of India. Singh and Iwaya agreed to eng or countries in Indo-Pacific region with different initiatives to ensure peace and stability. Moreover, Ministers reiterated fact that high-level exchanges between  Acquisition, Techlogy and Logistics ncy (ATLA) and Department of Defence Production (DDP) took place in vember 2018. y discussed ways of accelerating entry of Japanese defence industry into Indian defence market. Indian Defence Minister extended an invitation to Japanese delegation to attend DEFEXPO-2020, which is an international land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition to be held in Luckw, in February 2020.

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