Recently, the Indian PM Modi and Japanese PM Ishiba attended the 15th India-Japan Summit in Tokyo, focusing on deepening strategic, economic, and defence cooperation to strengthen their Special Strategic Global Partnership.

Key Outcomes of the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit

• Long-Term Strategic Roadmap: Adoption of the “India–Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade”, prioritising eight areas- economic partnership, economic security, mobility, ecological sustainability, innovation & technology, health, people-to-people exchanges, and state–prefecture cooperation.
  • Provides a comprehensive framework for functional cooperation, signalling long-term predictability in ties.
• Massive Investment Commitment: Japan pledged Japanese Yen (¥) 10 trillion (~USD 68 billion) in private-sector investments in India over the next decade.
  • Focus Areas: Artificial Intelligence, clean energy, critical minerals, defence, digital infrastructure, and human resources.
  • Annual investment flows to be scaled up to USD 6.8 billion, marking a 2.5-fold increase over past years.
• Economic Security & Supply Chains: Launch of an Economic Security Initiative to build resilience in semiconductors, critical minerals, telecom, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Supported by a joint Economic Security Fact Sheet, offering an illustrative list of actual cooperation projects.
  • Directly addresses global supply chain disruptions and over-dependence on China.
• Digital and AI Cooperation: Launch of the India–Japan AI Cooperation Initiative, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs), training, data centre development, and startup ecosystems.
  • Signing of Digital Partnership 2.0 and 21 agreements to strengthen cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure.
  • Builds trust in emerging technologies with a focus on capacity-building.
• Human Resource Exchange and Mobility: Adoption of the Action Plan for Human Resource Exchange, targeting 500,000 exchanges in five years, including 50,000 skilled Indian professionals in Japan’s IT, semiconductor, and manufacturing sectors.
  • Launch of the Next-Generation Mobility Partnership, promoting collaboration in railways, ports, aviation, logistics, and shipping, aligned with “Make in India, Make for the World”.
  • Establishment of the India–Japan Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Forum to boost SME and startup engagement.
• Green Growth and Sustainability: Signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent on Clean Hydrogen and Ammonia to advance green energy technologies.
  • Launch of the Sustainable Fuel Initiative on biofuels, biogas, and energy innovations, with focus on farmer livelihoods and rural energy security.
  • Agreements on Decentralised Domestic Waste Water Management and Environment Cooperation, promoting climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable urban development.
• Science, Technology, and Space Collaboration: Implementing arrangement between ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) for the Joint Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Chandrayaan-5 collaboration).
  • MoUs between the Ministry of Science and Technology, India, and Japan’s MEXT, encouraging joint R&D, researcher exchanges, and institutional cooperation, with startup and industry involvement.
• Cultural and People-to-People Exchange: Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on Cultural Exchange, enabling museum tie-ups, exhibitions, and heritage preservation.
  • Tokyo Skytree lit up in Indian tricolour and symbolic Daruma doll gift to the Indian PM reinforced civilisational linkages.
  • Expanded state–prefecture exchanges (Kansai, Kyushu) and creation of business forums for sub-national cooperation.
• Security and Strategic Cooperation: Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation upgraded defence ties, emphasising Quad commitments, maritime stability, and cybersecurity.
  • Leaders reaffirmed support for a Free, Open, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific (FOIP) to counter maritime assertiveness.
  • Strategic signalling included a bullet train ride to Sendai, highlighting infrastructure partnership and technology transfer.

About India and Japan Relations

• Cultural Links: Buddhism created enduring civilizational and cultural ties since the 6th century.
• Post-War Ties: The 1952 Peace Treaty restored diplomatic relations after World War II.
• Annual Summits: Since 2000, India and Japan have held one of India’s oldest Annual Summit mechanisms (alongside Russia), reflecting long-standing political trust.
  • 2000 – Global Partnership: Relations were first elevated to a Global Partnership, recognising convergence of interests.
  • 2006 – Strategic and Global Partnership: The framework was upgraded, deepening cooperation in security and economic priorities.
  • 2014 – Special Strategic and Global Partnership: Relations were further elevated, underlining exceptional trust and a shared Indo-Pacific vision.

Strategic and Security Cooperation

• Frameworks and Agreements:
  • Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (2008): First such agreement signed by India outside its traditional partners, reflecting Japan’s rising importance in India’s strategic calculus.
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation (2014): Enhanced bilateral defence exchanges and capacity building.
  • Information Protection Agreement (2015): Allowed sharing of sensitive classified information, crucial for defence technology cooperation.
  • Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (2020): Enabled logistical support during military exercises and HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations.
  • Joint Declaration (2025): Expanded into cyber defence, counter-terrorism, space situational awareness, and CBRN defence, reflecting a modern, multidimensional security agenda.
• Military Exercises:
  • Malabar (with the United States and Australia): Strengthened Quad military interoperability.
  • Japan–India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX): Focused on bilateral naval coordination.
  • Dharma Guardian (Army) & Milan (Multilateral Naval): Enhanced Army cooperation and regional naval linkages.
  • Coast Guard Drills: Supported maritime safety and law enforcement.
  • 2024–25 Service Chiefs Participation: Marked a qualitative leap in interoperability and trust-building.
• Maritime Cooperation:
  • Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC–IOR) and Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA): Enabled real-time maritime data sharing for regional security.
  • Joint efforts in anti-piracy operations and support for third countries’ maritime law enforcement showcased India–Japan as net security providers.
• Defence Technology:
  • Collaboration between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) deepened defence innovation ties.
  • Co-development of the UNICORN naval mast (2024): A landmark in joint military hardware production.
  • Cooperation extended into defence medicine and CBRN protection, highlighting non-traditional security linkages.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

• Bilateral Trade: USD 22.8 billion in 2023–24; USD 21 billion in April–January 2024–25, with India facing a trade deficit.
  • Exports include chemicals, vehicles, aluminium, and seafood.
  • Imports include machinery, steel, copper, and reactors.
  • Pattern highlights complementarities but also India’s dependence on Japanese high-tech imports.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Japan is India’s fifth-largest FDI source with USD 43.2 billion cumulative investment till Dec 2024.
  • Over 1,400 Japanese companies in India and 100+ Indian firms in Japan show deep industrial engagement.
• Development Assistance: Japan is India’s largest Official Development Assistance (ODA) donor since 1958.
  • JPY 580 billion (USD 4.5 billion) in 2023–24 reflects continued commitment.
  • Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project stands as a flagship symbol of trust and technology transfer.
• Investment Targets: Earlier 5 trillion yen goal for 2026 achieved.
  • New Target: 7–10 trillion yen, with focus on SMEs, start-ups, and digital sectors—signalling a shift to future-oriented industries.
• Economic Security and Technology Cooperation: Semiconductors: Renesas–CG Power plant (Gujarat), Tokyo Electron–Tata Electronics partnership, and collaborations with IIT Hyderabad & CDAC strengthen India’s chip ecosystem.
  • Digital Partnership 2.0: NEC–Reliance Jio O-RAN pilots; NTT expanding data centres to boost India’s digital economy.
  • Science & Innovation: 2025 designated Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchanges; India–Japan AI Cooperation Initiative launched; Hyderabad AI data hub set up by NTT Data & Neysa Networks.
• Critical Minerals and Clean Energy: 2025 MoC on Critical Minerals: rare earths, sustainable mining, and stockpiling.
  • Joint projects in hydrogen and ammonia (Adani Mundra) and a 400 MW renewable portfolio (JBIC, Osaka Gas, Clean Max).
  • Biofuels & EV supply chains: bamboo-based ethanol in Assam illustrates innovative, sustainable collaboration.

Development and Infrastructure Cooperation

• High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train): A symbol of advanced technology transfer and bilateral trust.
• Discussion on a mobility partnership covering railways, aviation, shipbuilding, ports, and bridges.
• Leaders’ likely travel on a bullet train to Sendai symbolizes joint expertise in infrastructure and semiconductors.

Other Cooperation

• Human Resource and Cultural Exchange: People-to-People Action Plan (2025)
  • Target of 500,000 exchanges in five years, including 50,000 skilled Indians in IT, semiconductors, and manufacturing.
  • Demonstrates human capital as a pillar of bilateral ties.
• Skill Development: India–Japan Talent Bridge and India–Nippon Programme for Applied Competency Training expand opportunities for Indian youth in Japanese industries.
• Tourism and Education: 2023–24 Year of Tourism Exchange themed “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”.
  • Over 665 university tie-ups, scholarships, and Centres of Excellence in Yoga and Ayurveda in Japan.
• Diaspora: About 54,000 Indians in Japan, mostly IT professionals and engineers, act as bridges of cultural and economic cooperation.
• Space and Mobility Cooperation: LUPEX Mission (Chandrayaan-5)- Joint lunar polar exploration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
  • Mobility expansion in high-speed rail, aviation, shipbuilding, and ports enhances infrastructure connectivity.
• Multilateral and Regional Cooperation: Active in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
  • Shared strategic outlook amid United States tariff policies and Indo-Pacific uncertainties.
  • Partnerships between Japanese prefectures and Indian states for localized cooperation strengthen grassroots linkages.

Significance of India and Japan Relations

• Strategic Stability in the Indo-Pacific: The partnership anchors the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, countering unilateral and coercive actions by regional powers.
  • Regular maritime exercises, Quad cooperation, and FOIP commitment strengthen security architecture.
• Economic Resilience and Supply Chain Security: Both nations collaborate to reduce over-dependence on China by securing semiconductor, critical mineral, and clean energy supply chains.
  • Joint initiatives like the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) aim at diversification.
• Technology Leadership and Innovation Partnership: Expanding cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, and Space exploration.
  • Collaboration enhances India’s digital ambitions and supports Japan’s high-tech industries.
• Human Capital Synergy: Japan’s ageing workforce aligns with India’s young demographic dividend, making mobility partnerships and skill development mutually beneficial.
  • The India–Japan Human Resource Development Plan addresses labour shortages in Japan while offering opportunities to Indian youth.
• Green Growth and Energy Transition: Collaboration in hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, solar, and offshore wind supports both nations’ carbon neutrality goals.
  • Japan’s green technologies complement India’s scaling capacity and energy needs.
• Global Governance and Multilateral Support: Both nations push for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform, nuclear disarmament, and representation of the Global South.
  • Their coordination in G20, Quad, BRICS, and UN fora strengthens a multipolar global order.

Challenges to India and Japan Relations

• The China Factor in Indo-Pacific Stability: Chinese maritime assertiveness in the East and South China Seas threatens regional security.
  • India is more vocal in criticising Beijing, while Japan remains cautious due to economic interdependence.
  • Overdependence on China for semiconductors and critical minerals exposes vulnerabilities.
  • Efforts for supply chain diversification need greater investment and technology transfer.
  • India’s post-Galwan clash (2020) balancing act—deepening ties with Japan while cautiously engaging China—shows the trust deficit persists.
• Geopolitical Balancing and Strategic Autonomy: The regional balance of power is shaped by the interplay of the US, China, Japan, and India.
  • Trump 2.0’s tariff policies and unpredictability weaken Quad coherence and complicate long-term strategy.
  • India maintains strategic autonomy, balancing Quad cooperation with membership in BRICS, SCO, and AIIB, while Japan follows a more pro-US orientation.
  • Russia factor: Japan adheres to US–G7 sanctions, while India continues energy imports and defence cooperation with Moscow. India’s participation in Vostok Exercises near the disputed Kuril Islands highlighted divergences.
• Economic and Demographic Challenges: Bilateral trade remains modest compared to India–China trade volumes.
  • Indian exporters face language barriers, quality standards, and policy divergences on E-commerce rules (Osaka Track) and RCEP membership.
  • Japan’s ageing population and India’s youthful workforce create natural complementarities, but lack of migration frameworks, skill partnerships, and social security coordination limit potential gains.
• Strategic and Infrastructure Collaboration Issues: The Asia–Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) struggles with financing, feasibility, and scale, weakening its image as a counterweight to China’s BRI.
  • Defence cooperation faces bureaucratic delays, cost challenges, and stalled negotiations (e.g., US-2 amphibious aircraft deal).
  • India’s push for defence exports may sometimes compete with Japanese ambitions, creating friction in collaboration.

Way Forward

• Enhancing Regional Role: India and Japan should leverage their economic and military strengths to offer a credible counterbalance to China in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Strengthening Quad-based initiatives, joint naval exercises, and cyber-security cooperation can reinforce deterrence.
• Green Technologies and Environmental Cooperation: Japanese innovations can help India combat pollution and climate change.
  • Examples include the Miyawaki afforestation technique and the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) that incentivises low-carbon technology transfer.
• Addressing Trade Bottlenecks: Expanding trade beyond automobiles and IT into pharmaceuticals, digital services, and green tech is crucial.
  • Joint ventures merging Japanese manufacturing expertise with Indian raw materials and labour can strengthen supply chains.
• Defense and Strategic Cooperation: Finalising the US-2 aircraft deal and deepening cooperation in submarines, robotics, quantum technology, and unmanned vehicles will expand strategic trust.
• People-to-People and Workforce Exchanges: Encouraging migration of Indian IT professionals and skilled workers can support Japan’s digitalisation and ageing society.
  • Academic and cultural exchange will cement long-term societal linkages.
• Expanding Science & Technology Partnerships: Cooperation in 5G, submarine cable systems, quantum communication, and semiconductor R&D will help both nations reduce technological dependence on China.
• Strategic Connectivity and Infrastructure: Linking South Asia with Southeast Asia through synergy of India’s Act East Policy and Japan’s Partnership for Quality Infrastructure will boost regional influence.
  • Joint projects in Africa and Southeast Asia can enhance credibility of development partnerships.

Conclusion

• The India–Japan partnership has evolved from aid-driven cooperation to a comprehensive strategic alliance with global implications. The 15th Annual Summit marks a leap forward, embedding cooperation in economic security, critical technologies, climate, and space exploration, while reinforcing traditional defence and infrastructure pillars.

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