New Delhi, May 5: In a firm reaffirmation of their growing strategic ties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
The meeting was marked by a strong condemnation of terrorism and a call for unified global action against state-sponsored and cross-border terrorism.
Referring to Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism, Rajnath Singh said such state-sponsored acts destabilise regional peace and security. He emphasised the urgent need for a collective international response to tackle the threat of terrorism and its sponsors.
The Japanese Defence Minister offered full support to India in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and expressed deep condolences for the loss of lives.
The two leaders reviewed the progress of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, focusing on strengthening defence and security cooperation. They discussed enhancing the scope and complexity of joint defence exercises and expanding maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence Minister Singh outlined opportunities for defence industrial collaboration, particularly in areas such as tank engines, aero engines, and Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO). He also highlighted India’s readiness to cooperate with Japan in automation, artificial intelligence, and other niche domains.
The two Ministers also agreed to take forward cooperation in emerging areas like cyber security and outer space, underlining the future-oriented nature of the bilateral defence partnership.
Earlier in the day, Minister Nakatani paid tributes at the National War Memorial and was accorded a ceremonial Tri-Services Guard of Honour. The visit marks a continuation of high-level engagements that have gained momentum since 2014, when the India-Japan partnership was elevated to the level of Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The dialogue concluded with both sides expressing a strong commitment to bolster defence ties, ensure regional stability, and collaborate in building resilient defence ecosystems.
