India and Japan convened for the 8th Defence Policy Dialogue in Tokyo on Monday to assess the advancement of their bilateral military cooperation and to reaffirm their commitment to the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Japanese Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Kano Koji led their respective delegations. During the meeting, the officials engaged in broad discussions regarding the current global and regional security landscape, sharing perspectives on matters of mutual strategic interest.

Detailing the scope of the talks, a government statement noted, “The dialogue reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral defence engagements, including military-to-military exchanges, cooperation between joint headquarters, maritime cooperation, defence exercises, capacity building, defence equipment and technology cooperation, including maritime technology, and enhanced institutional interactions.”

Acknowledging the steady expansion of their military ties, both nations stressed the importance of sustaining regular high-level communication. They examined potential deliverables for upcoming ministerial meetings, notably the anticipated 2+2 dialogue scheduled for later this year. Furthermore, the delegations investigated avenues to enhance partnerships in emerging domains, such as cybersecurity, space exploration, technological innovation, and defence industrial collaboration.

The two countries voiced satisfaction over their aligning views on global and regional security matters, pledging to continue their close coordination in the Indo-Pacific. They firmly reiterated their shared dedication to maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region anchored in international law.

Defence Secretary Singh praised Japan’s ongoing defence partnership with New Delhi, emphasizing the need for pragmatic collaboration under the framework of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. In response, Kano Koji reiterated Tokyo’s dedication to broadening bilateral defence relations across key priority sectors.

Earlier on Monday, Singh met with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, delivering greetings from Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. As both officials acknowledged the accelerating momentum of their bilateral partnership, the Defence Secretary passed along an invitation for Koizumi to visit India at his earliest convenience.

Commencing his Tokyo trip, Singh also paid his respects to fallen Japanese service members by laying a wreath at the Self-Defense Forces Memorial Stone. Ultimately, the visit underscored the strengthening military ties, mutual respect, and joint dedication of both nations to maintaining peace, security, and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region.