Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have taken significant steps to enhance bilateral cooperation in the realms of security, economic resilience, and advanced technologies. During a summit in New Delhi, the leaders emphasized their commitment to maintaining a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. They jointly expressed concerns regarding economic coercion and recent developments in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
A key outcome of the summit was the agreement to fortify supply chains, especially in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals. This collaboration aims at reducing vulnerabilities and ensuring stability in these essential areas. The two countries also plan to deepen defense ties by expanding joint military exercises and improving cooperation on naval vessel maintenance and defense equipment development. Furthermore, a “two-plus-two” meeting involving the foreign and defense ministers from both nations is scheduled to occur later this year.
On the economic front, the summit witnessed the signing of 129 memorandums of understanding between Japanese and Indian companies, amounting to investments worth approximately ¥2 trillion ($12.4 billion). These agreements span a variety of sectors, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automotive manufacturing, and advanced technologies, highlighting the depth of the economic partnership between the two nations.
The collaboration in emerging technologies was further solidified with an agreement to boost cooperation in artificial intelligence. One of the goals is to have 500 Indian AI specialists working in Japan by 2030 to support joint research and innovation initiatives. This move underscores the growing synergy between Japan and India in the field of cutting-edge technologies and reflects a mutual interest in harnessing the potential of AI for economic and technological advancement.