India-Japan Defence Ministers Meeting and Maritime Security Agreement
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on 20 August 2026, resulting in the signing of a significant Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Japan and Ministry of Defence of India. This agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for advancing cooperation in maritime security, specifically focusing on strengthening collaboration between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy.
The memorandum includes provisions for information sharing in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), enhanced cooperation in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Both ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination for the protection of Sea Lines of Communications through mutual naval visits, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, Subject Matter Expert interactions, and logistical support including use of ports and maintenance facilities.
Defence Equipment and Technology Transfer
The ministers highlighted the shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna system as the first defence equipment transfer project between the two countries, representing a symbol of deepening cooperation. They committed to working towards early realization of this project and advancing discussions on other defence equipment and technology projects based on operational requirements. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed Japan's recent review of its framework for transfer of defence equipment and technology, expressing expectations for deeper defence and technology partnership.
Joint Exercises and Operational Cooperation
Both ministers welcomed the steady expansion of bilateral exercises including the Japan-India Army exercise 'Dharma Guardian' and Japan-India Maritime Exercise 'JAIMEX'. They noted steady progress in coordination for the Japan-India Air Force exercise 'Veer Guardian 26', scheduled for this year, which will mark the first visit of Japan Air Self-Defence Force fighter aircraft to India. The ministers agreed to further deepen cooperation through enhanced exercise complexities, integration of unmanned systems, and pursuing joint exercises at short notice.
Industrial and Technological Collaboration
The ministers emphasized maximizing synergies to enhance mine countermeasures capabilities and exploring possibilities for joint development in naval shipbuilding and design by leveraging Japan's technological expertise and India's production capabilities under the 'Make in India' framework. They concurred on progressing reciprocal provision of ship repair facilities, including concluding a ship repair arrangement in the near future. Both ministers also affirmed commitment to deepening defence R&D cooperation between DRDO and ATLA in state-of-the-art defence technologies and confirmed intention to convene a Defence Industry Forum.
Regional Cooperation and Institutional Mechanisms
The ministers welcomed the first trilateral naval PASSEX exercise involving Japan, India and Indonesia conducted in February this year and agreed to further deepen cooperation with third countries through high-level exchanges and exercises. They concurred on promoting cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) to support partner countries during natural disasters, with the second tabletop exercise of IPLN scheduled for September at Japan Ministry of Defense.
Both ministers agreed to accelerate discussions towards convening the Fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting ('2+2') in Tokyo this year and established a Working Group headed at Director-General/Joint Secretary level to advance integrated cooperation across operational, intelligence, equipment, technology and industrial domains while respecting each country's policies and sovereign choices.