During their 2+2 Dialogue in Tokyo on Thursday, India and Japan agreed to further strengthen cooperation in their joint pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific and India’s vision for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). India was represented by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister (DM) Rajnath Singh, while Japan was represented by their counterparts Yoshimasa Hayashi and Yasukazu Hamada.
Joined Raksha Mantri @rajnathsingh ji for an interaction with the Indian community in Tokyo.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 9, 2022
Pleased to see them doing well in so many domains and endeavours. Their love and affection for the motherland was manifest. pic.twitter.com/57zkfh1ydu
In a press release on Thursday, DM Singh said that this year’s meeting was especially significant for both countries, as it marked 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. He stated that the two countries share “an important relationship for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Singh noted that the two sides had discussed “the progress in the military to military cooperation and exchanges,” adding that they share a “common desire” to “increase the scope and complexities” of their bilateral exercises. He announced the launch of Staff Talks between the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) and the Integrated Defence Staff of India. The DM also revealed that the two countries’ Air Forces are “working closely” to conduct the inaugural Air Force fighter exercise in order to “pave way for much greater cooperation and interoperability.”
India-Japan is a key relationship of the region.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 10, 2022
Our 2+2 Ministerial reaffirmed our partnership for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Ino-Pacific.
Highlights below: pic.twitter.com/OSSsWhjpzK
Singh remarked that the “growing complexities” in their bilateral defence exercises are “a testimony” to the “deepening of defence cooperation.” To this end, Singh and Hamada expressed their commitment to continue holding bilateral and multilateral exercises including ‘Dharma Guardian’, ‘JIMEX’ and ‘Malabar’. According to the Indian government, they also welcomed the operationalisation of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement during the ‘MILAN’ multilateral exercise in March this year.
Just concluded a warm and productive 2+2 Ministerial meeting along with Raksha Mantri @rajnathsingh ji in Tokyo.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 8, 2022
Thank FM Hayashi Yoshimasa and Defence Minister Hamada Yasukazu for the wide ranging and open conversations.
My concluding remarks are below: pic.twitter.com/SC1M0xNQcE
The two countries, who share a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, agreed to enhance defence equipment and promote technological cooperation. Singh called for increased Japanese investment in “emerging and critical technological domains” and also invited Japanese defence companies to broaden their engagement in India.
#DMHamada and FM Hayashi held the second Japan-India “2+2” with Minister of Defence of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar since the last meeting in November 2019. 🇯🇵🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/tcmTMTtRUo
— Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces (@ModJapan_en) September 8, 2022
The ministers also discussed ways to enhance their maritime cooperation including through the Maritime Domain Awareness initiative. They agreed that the India-Japan partnership is essential to secure a “free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.” To this end, Singh asserted that India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) shares “many commonalities” with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative.
Pleased to call on PM Fumio Kishida at the conclusion of our 2+2 meeting. Underlined the importance of closer coordination of policies and interests of India and Japan at this time. pic.twitter.com/agnv554SmZ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 9, 2022
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MOD) described the negotiations as “ frank and fruitful,” and announced that Hamada “resolved to fundamentally reinforce” Japan’s “defence capabilities” through the formulation of the country’s National Security Strategy. In addition, both sides acknowledged that global cooperation is “more necessary than ever” to help tackle global “security challenges that have become more acute.”
In this regard, the joint statement said that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to establishing “a rules-based global order that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations” and “emphasised the need for all countries to seek peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law without resorting to threat or use of force or any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo.”
On September 9, #StateMinisterOfDefenseIno visited Yokosuka JMSDF base with 🇮🇳DM Singh to see #JSKUMANO, which was commissioned in March 2022. Japan and India look forward to further deepening the bilateral cooperation including maritime security. 🇯🇵🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/OdIxn8hOc6
— Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces (@ModJapan_en) September 9, 2022
Tokyo expressed its resolve “to examine all options necessary for national defence,” including its counterstrike capabilities. It also expressed its determination to “fundamentally reinforce” the country’s defence capabilities within the next five years and substantially increase its defence budget to achieve this goal.
The ministers hailed the forum for providing “strategic guidance for enhancing the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” They also agreed to conduct the next 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in India.