New Delhi: India and Japan Thursday agreed to deepen defence cooperation in the maritime domain, including exploration of joint development of naval ships and design, greater use of India’s shipbuilding capabilities under ‘Make in India’ framework, reciprocal ship-repair facilities, and wider transfer of defence technology.
The agreement comes as Japan undergoes major transformation in its defence policy. The Sanae Takaichi-led government is seeking to expand security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific in view of China’s growing military capabilities and North Korea’s missile programme.Following talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi, the two countries, for the first time, issued a detailed joint statement outlining the broad areas of their future defence and maritime cooperation.
They also signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation, which provides a framework for closer cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Indian Navy, including information sharing on Maritime Domain Awareness, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.The two sides further agreed to strengthen coordination for protection of sea lines of communication through reciprocal naval ship and unit visits, joint exercises, personnel and subject-matter expert exchanges, as well as logistical support, including access to ports, and maintenance and repair facilities.
