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

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Military exchanges between India and Japan 

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

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

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Co-operation in Defence Technology 

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

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