Japan’s Defence Minister Meets Modi, Emphasises Joint Production and Maritime Security

New Delhi witnessed a decisive step in Indo‑Japanese defence relations as Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Defence Minister Shinjirō Kōizumi for a bilateral meeting. The core of the dialogue was the promotion of joint production under India’s "Make in India" umbrella, inviting Japanese firms to co‑develop and co‑manufacture advanced defence hardware.

Modi reminded Kōizumi of the July 2026 joint summit and lauded the accelerating pace of defence collaboration, describing it as a vital pillar for regional equilibrium. He urged Japanese investment in Indian start‑ups, especially those working on unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and autonomous platforms.

Kōizumi responded by outlining Japan’s readiness to share expertise in missile technology, naval shipbuilding and cyber‑defence. He cited recent progress in joint naval drills and promised to translate discussions into measurable projects within the next fiscal year.

The leaders jointly condemned any unilateral moves that threaten freedom of navigation and pledged to strengthen maritime domain awareness, SAR (search and rescue) operations, and humanitarian aid mechanisms through a newly signed MoU.