In a defining moment for Asian security dynamics, India and Japan have taken a resolute stance against terrorism and expanded their strategic defence partnership, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties. During a high-profile meeting on May 5, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani jointly condemned terrorism in all forms and called for intensified international cooperation to counter the growing threat of state-sponsored and cross-border militancy.
The meeting, held under the umbrella of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, reaffirmed the two democracies’ shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. It also underscored their commitment to enhancing regional security, particularly in the face of evolving threats from terrorism and aggressive geopolitical maneuvers.
The central theme of the dialogue was a unified international front against terrorism. Minister Rajnath Singh did not mince words, directly calling out Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism and warning that state-sponsored violence undermines regional peace and violates international norms.
“State-sponsored terrorism is the gravest threat to peace in South Asia,” Singh stated. “The international community must stand together, without ambiguity, against those who provide safe havens, funding, or support to terrorist actors.”
His remarks come just weeks after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of 11 civilians. The incident, which investigators have linked to Pakistani-based militant groups, drew strong condemnation from global leaders.
Minister Nakatani expressed Japan’s heartfelt condolences for the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed Tokyo’s support for India’s counter-terrorism efforts. “Japan stands with India against terrorism,” Nakatani said. “We strongly denounce the use of violence to achieve political goals and call for collective international action.”
The ministers jointly emphasized the need to dismantle terrorist networks such as Al Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), all of which remain active in the region. The duo also stressed that the perpetrators of past attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot assaults, must be brought to justice.
Beyond the shared concern over terrorism, both nations reaffirmed their growing defence cooperation. The ministers reviewed current engagements, including joint military exercises and defence technology collaboration, while outlining ambitious goals for the future.
India and Japan have significantly enhanced their defence collaboration since their relationship was elevated to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. The frequency of joint drills like Veer Guardian, Dharma Guardian, and Malabar, as well as Japan’s recent participation in the Tarang Shakti exercise, is testament to their deepening military interoperability.
Minister Singh emphasized industrial cooperation, particularly in tank and aero engine development, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and cyber capabilities. Japan, known for its technological prowess, is exploring mechanisms to support India’s Make in India initiative by co-developing or co-producing high-tech defence systems.
One notable project on the horizon involves the transfer of UNICORN communication antenna technology—recently deployed on Japan’s newest Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers. Discussions are underway to equip Indian naval platforms with these systems, which offer advanced communication resilience in hostile environments.
Furthermore, India is considering participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint initiative involving Japan, the UK, and Italy to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2035. If finalized, India’s involvement could mark a strategic breakthrough in trilateral defence cooperation and significantly boost indigenous aerospace capabilities.
The ministerial dialogue builds on momentum generated during the third India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi on August 20, 2024. The event brought together Indian Ministers Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar with their Japanese counterparts Kihara Minoru and Kamikawa Yoko.
During the 2+2 meeting, the two countries stressed their shared vision for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific and emphasized the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order. This includes upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful resolution of disputes, particularly in contested maritime spaces like the South China Sea.
A recurring theme was deterrence against unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo—a pointed reference to China’s growing assertiveness. Both India and Japan support ASEAN’s centrality in the regional architecture and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), underscoring transparency and inclusivity.
The Quad—a strategic forum comprising India, Japan, the United States, and Australia—was acknowledged as a critical pillar of this vision. Recent discussions at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo in July 2024 have already led to enhanced collaboration on cybersecurity, infrastructure, maritime domain awareness, and disaster relief.
Japan and India’s growing cooperation extends beyond military exercises. The two countries are deeply engaged in defence technology transfer, and recent progress includes the work of the India-Japan Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation Group. Key focus areas include robotics, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and satellite communication.
Japan’s UNICORN antenna project, for instance, represents a new era of modular, encrypted communication systems adaptable to battlefield conditions. Indian defence planners see such technology as critical for modernizing their command-and-control architecture across land, air, and sea domains.
In another ambitious step, India and Japan are establishing a senior-officer level body tasked with coordinating joint defence initiatives. This structure is expected to synchronize interoperability, streamline intelligence-sharing, and scale up multilateral engagements.
Minister Singh also highlighted opportunities for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations within India, urging Japanese firms to invest in defence infrastructure and supply chains under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative.
Japan’s policy shift in South Asia is increasingly visible. While economic engagement with Pakistan continues, Tokyo’s strategic focus has moved toward a broader Indo-Pacific outlook—deepening ties with India and investing in regional projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Japan’s December 2022 National Security Strategy (NSS) explicitly called for enhanced strategic relations with India. Tokyo now views India as an essential partner in balancing regional power, ensuring maritime security, and countering terrorism.
The NSS also emphasized the need to respond to hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, disinformation, and grey-zone warfare. This aligns with India’s own security doctrine, creating further opportunities for cooperation in intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and digital infrastructure security.
While the India-Japan partnership is regional in scope, its implications are global. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expanded its counter-terrorism efforts across Southeast Asia, engaging through frameworks such as ASEAN+3, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Japan has contributed to counter-terrorism capacity-building, providing technical assistance in immigration control, aviation security, and law enforcement. These programs, particularly in Southeast Asia, are increasingly aligned with India’s own outreach through BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
This shared commitment enhances both nations’ reputations as responsible stakeholders in global security. It also provides a model for North-South cooperation in combating terrorism, one that emphasizes rule of law, international norms, and collaborative governance.
The May 5 meeting in New Delhi was not a ceremonial gesture—it marked a strategic convergence. With both nations facing common threats, from terrorism to coercive geopolitics, the India-Japan defence partnership is becoming a cornerstone of Asia’s security landscape.
They agreed to update their bilateral strategic framework to reflect new security realities. This includes strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums, increasing frequency and scale of joint drills, and expanding joint R&D in emerging tech.
With increasing instability in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and the spread of non-state threats, their call for international unity against terrorism couldn’t be more timely. The alliance between India and Japan sends a message not just to their adversaries, but to the world: that rules-based order, transparency, and peace remain worth fighting for.
India and Japan are forging more than a defence alliance—they are crafting a vision for the Indo-Pacific based on mutual respect, technological partnership, and zero tolerance for terrorism. Their strengthened bilateral defence posture, coupled with a shared strategic vision, positions them as vital anchors in a region rife with volatility.
