The cooperation between India and Japan continues to deepen over time as the two nations share historical linkages with exchanges between the two countries being traced to the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced in Japan.

As both nations deal with the challenges provided by an aggressive China in the Asian region, India’s political ties to Japan have grown significantly over the past few decades.

The commitment of India and Japan to a free and open Indo-Pacific, boosting economic cooperation, and encouraging people-to-people interactions is highlighted by their most recent strategic discussion.

Their reinforced partnership, which marks a key turning point in their ever-expanding relationship, holds great potential for helping to shape a thriving Indo-Pacific region governed by inclusion and rules-based principles in the face of shifting geopolitical circumstances.

In 2006, the bilateral partnership between the two countries was elevated to the status of ‘Global and Strategic Partnership’, which was further upgraded to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014 after the summit meeting between the then leaders of the two countries – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then PM Shinzo Abe. Such an agreement was the testimony to a deepening, broad-based and action-oriented partnership between India and Japan and a reflection of a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic, and strategic goals.

In the lead-up to both the G20 and G7 summits, the visit of Japanese PM Kishida to India bolstered further commitment between the two countries to work together for the realisation of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.

India and Japan have already developed various frameworks of security partnership including a ‘2+2’ Dialogue involving Foreign and Defence ministers. The two countries regularly participate in joint military exercises such as the Malabar Exercise and have various partnership agreements ranging from defence equipment trade to military logistics.

Moreover, the connections have continuously grown closer and wider in the area of commercial partnerships. The amount of trade between the two nations has amplified over the years.

Japan is India’s 13th-largest trading partner, whereas India is Japan’s 18th-largest. With Japan’s private sector investment in India steadily increasing, it is among the top five foreign investors in India. India also receives the most official development assistance (ODA) funding from Japan. A noteworthy illustration of Japan’s ODA’s achievement in India is the Delhi Metro.

The cooperation between the two countries is getting ever stronger with an increasingly assertive China posing a challenge to both countries.

The strategic doctrines of Japan – both the National Security Strategy 2022 and the National Defence Strategy 2022 – clearly expresses Japan’s intention to deepen bilateral and multilateral defence exchanges with India, with an emphasis on securing a free, open, peaceful, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Japan has also been allowed by India to carry out projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are in close proximity to the strategic chokepoint Strait of Malacca.

A reflection of true Global Strategic Partners, India and Japan have been jointly developing infrastructure projects across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Africa with a view not only to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but also to invest in the development of these regions and support the local community.

The recently concluded 15th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue, led by Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, added another feather to this steadily growing partnership.

It demonstrated both countries’ unwavering commitment to strengthening their bilateral partnership on important regional and international issues. Given the current global climate, this dialogue is very noteworthy.

The ministers emphasised the importance of creating an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open and is founded on common values and principles. Speaking warmly of India, Japanese Foreign Minister Hiyashi highlighted how crucial India is to achieving this kind of global vision.

Moreover, during the 15th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue, the foreign ministers agreed to achieve the target of Japanese investments in India to the tune of 5 trillion Yen (about USD 35.9 billion) over the period of 2022-27. Several potential areas for collaboration in the field of critical and emerging technologies were explored including semiconductors, resilient supply chains, and digital public infrastructure. The way forward to further deepen the Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation was also taken up by the foreign ministers. Earlier, Japan and India agreed to start a policy dialogue to promote cooperation in the development of semiconductors, hydrogen fuel and other advanced fields. The two countries aim to strengthen partnerships between Indian and Japanese private sectors in advanced industries.