India and Japan have renewed their commitment to strengthen bilateral defence ties and stand united against terrorism following a high-level meeting held in New Delhi on May 5, 2025. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani, where the two leaders discussed expanding military collaboration and enhancing regional security.
In a strong joint stance, both countries condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border attacks. They stressed the urgency of bringing to justice the perpetrators of past attacks such as the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot incidents. Their joint message called for concerted global efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, eliminate safe havens, cut off funding sources, and prevent the movement of terrorists across borders. Specific mention was made of UN-designated terror groups like ISIS, Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
The defence ministers explored the possibility of launching a new senior officer-level dialogue mechanism to ensure deeper engagement between their armed forces. Discussions also included cooperation in logistics and the potential for Japanese warships to undergo maintenance in Indian shipyards, marking a step forward in defence industrial collaboration.
Alongside military cooperation, the two nations expressed their shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. They reiterated support for ASEAN’s centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), emphasizing the need for regional balance and peace. Both ministers acknowledged the role of the Quad partnership in promoting stability and security in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The meeting marks a significant development in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, underscoring their alignment on regional and global security challenges.
