Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has welcomed Japan’s recent review of the framework for the transfer of defense equipment and technology. He praised this positive step during bilateral talks with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Following bilateral talks between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘Maritime Security Cooperation’ on Thursday (August 20, 2026). Both nations agreed to deepen operational cooperation across several areas, including information sharing, naval exercises, ship repairs, and logistical support.
According to the Ministry of Defense, during the talks held in New Delhi, both ministers reiterated their commitment to further strengthening defense cooperation under the ‘Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership.’ They also agreed to work towards establishing a free and open Indo-Pacific region amidst rising global tensions.
Both sides strongly opposed unilateral actions that undermine the freedom and safety of navigation and airspace, as well as attempts to alter the status quo through the use of force or coercion.
The signed maritime security agreement provides a framework for close cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy. It covers areas such as Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The ministers agreed to strengthen synergy in securing maritime communications through mutual naval visits, joint exercises, exchanges of personnel and subject matter experts, and logistical support (including the use of ports and maintenance and repair facilities). India and Japan will move towards greater cooperation in the field of mine countermeasures. Leveraging Japan’s technological expertise and India’s manufacturing capabilities, possibilities for joint development in shipbuilding and design will also be explored. Both sides will discuss further utilizing India’s shipbuilding capabilities under the ‘Make in India’ framework and work towards establishing mutual ship repair facilities.
The ministers welcomed ongoing bilateral military exercises such as ‘Dharma Guardian’ and ‘JIMEX’, as well as the planned ‘Veer Guardian 26’ air exercise, which will see Japanese fighter aircraft participating in India for the first time. Both sides also agreed to enhance the complexity of bilateral exercises, including the potential inclusion of unmanned systems and the conduct of joint exercises on short notice.
Both nations will promote exchanges between their Special Operations Forces and advance cooperation with India’s ‘Integrated Theatre Command’ once it is established. Aiming to deepen cooperation in the defense and technology sectors, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed Japan’s recent review of its framework regarding the transfer of defense equipment and technology. Both sides identified the ship-based ‘UNICORN’ integrated communications antenna system as a symbol of their growing defense equipment partnership and pledged to expedite its implementation.
Cooperation in the field of advanced defense technology between India’s DRDO and Japan’s ATLA will be further strengthened, and a ‘Defense Industry Forum’ will be organized.
The ministers also agreed to establish a ‘Working Group’—led by a Director General or Joint Secretary—to coordinate efforts across operational, intelligence, equipment, technology, and industrial domains.
They also agreed to accelerate the process for the fourth India-Japan ‘2+2’ Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue, scheduled to be held in Tokyo later this year.
