Deepening India-Japan partnership strengthens Indo-Pacific stability: EAM S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Wednesday underscored the growing ties between India and Japan, emphasising that the partnership between the two nations is crucial for enhancing strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at the 8th India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum in New Delhi, Jaishankar said the bilateral relationship reflects a shared vision for peace, prosperity, and security in the region.

He also emphasized that maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific has become both a stronger imperative and a more complex challenge. According to him, the evolving global scenario is reflected in the expanding cooperation between India and Japan across multiple domains.

Deepening bilateral cooperation

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Congratulating the Delhi Policy Group and the Japan Institute of International Affairs for hosting the dialogue, Jaishankar underlined the importance of recent high-level engagements between the two nations. He referred to the conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi following her assumption of office, calling it a reflection of “the priority both countries attach to their partnership.”

He also highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan in August, which laid out a joint vision for the next decade. “Its eight priority pillars, and the investment target of 10 trillion yen over the next 10 years, are useful metrics to assess our ambition,” the minister said. He added that the “Joint Declaration on security cooperation is also noteworthy in raising the level of our aspirations in defence and security,”
IANS reported.

Jaishankar stressed that the India-Japan partnership must focus on “leveraging our strengths, bolstering our supply chains and investing in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy and space.” He noted that as “two major democracies and maritime nations,” India and Japan share a greater responsibility towards ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

He also pointed to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, where Japan co-leads the maritime trade, transport, and connectivity pillar, as a key platform for collaboration.

The EAM mentioned his recent meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi at the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides agreed to conduct a more detailed review soon to advance the partnership further.

Concluding his remarks, he said, “Let me emphasise that they (both nations) have always benefited from inputs and insights provided by think tanks. I wish you all a very productive discussion, and I very much look forward to receiving your ideas.”