Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on August 20, with the two countries expected to review and deepen their growing defence partnership.
Koizumi will arrive in Mumbai on August 19 and is expected to visit a naval base before travelling to the national capital. His visit comes soon after India and Japan signed their first co-development agreement for the UNICORN naval radio antenna system, marking a significant step in bilateral defence technology cooperation.
The discussions between Koizumi and Singh are expected to focus on expanding defence industry cooperation and assessing joint operational readiness. Defence engagement between India and Japan has increased in recent years, with the two sides working together across areas including military technology, maritime security and strategic cooperation.
The partnership is also expected to receive an air-power boost in September, when fighter aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are likely to visit India for a bilateral air exercise. Japanese Air Chief General Takehiro Morita is also expected to visit India during the drills and meet senior Indian military officials.
Koizumi's visit follows the eighth India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue held in Tokyo on July 13. Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Japan's Vice Minister of Defence Kano Koji co-chaired the meeting, which reviewed cooperation in emerging areas such as cyber security, space and advanced military technologies.
India and Japan have also continued to emphasise the importance of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Their expanding defence partnership is aimed at strengthening maritime security, safeguarding key sea routes and responding to strategic challenges in the region.
The two countries are also set to cooperate through multilateral maritime exercises. Later this year, the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are scheduled to participate in the Malabar exercise alongside the United States and Australia, the other members of the Quad.
Koizumi's visit is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to assess ongoing defence cooperation and identify areas for greater collaboration in military technology, industry and operational engagement.
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