In a recent summit held in New Delhi, Japan and India have decided to enhance their collaboration across several key areas, focusing on security, economic resilience, and advanced technologies. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have committed to maintaining a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, voicing their concerns over economic coercion and developments in both the East China Sea and South China Sea.
The leaders have pledged to bolster their nations’ supply chains, with a special emphasis on strategic sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals. This move is part of a broader strategy to build economic resilience and reduce dependency on single sources. Additionally, the partnership will see an expansion of joint military exercises, enhanced cooperation on the maintenance of naval vessels, and the development of defense equipment. A “two-plus-two” meeting involving the foreign and defense ministers of both countries is scheduled for later this year to further these discussions.
Economically, the summit resulted in the signing of 129 memorandums of understanding between Japanese and Indian companies. These agreements represent investments totaling approximately ¥2 trillion ($12.4 billion) in various sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automotive manufacturing, and advanced technologies, highlighting the economic synergies between the two nations.
In the realm of emerging technologies, Japan and India are set to boost their cooperation in artificial intelligence. A significant part of this initiative is the goal of bringing 500 Indian AI specialists to Japan by 2030. This effort aims to foster joint research and innovation, underscoring the growing importance of AI in their bilateral relationship.