Japan and India to conduct first-ever joint fighter jet drills, strengthen defense ties
Asia-Pacific, News September 8, 2022 1 Comment on Japan and India to conduct first-ever joint fighter jet drills, strengthen defense tiesJapan and India have agreed to deepen defense cooperation and planned to hold the first Japan-India joint fighter aircraft exercise to strengthen bilateral defense ties further.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada held talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in Tokyo. Both were joined by their foreign ministers Japan’s Yoshimasa Hayashi and India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar later in the day for 2+2 security talks.
“The two ministers agreed that the early conduct of the inaugural fighter exercise will pave the way for much greater cooperation and interoperability between the air forces of the two countries,” India’s defense ministry said in a statement. India’s defense minister also invited Japanese industries to invest in India’s defense corridors.”
In his statement after the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Tokyo, Indian defense minister said that “Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership reflects interests and increasingly our footprint that extend well beyond the immediate region.” He added that India and Japan are keen to to take forward the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, amongst others.
The meeting comes when Russia is holding a major multinational military exercise with China and India participating. Tokyo has protested against the ongoing military exercise Vostok-2022 on two of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. Foreign Ministry officials said Japan has warned India against joining drills set on the disputed islands.
Joint military drills and tech cooperation
Japan agreed to step up joint military drills and cooperation in the development and transfer of military equipment and technology with India, according to statement by Japanese Defense Ministry. “The ministers welcomed the progress being made in coordination for the first Japan-India joint fighter aircraft exercise with a view to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.” The two countries are also discussing joint development of unmanned ground vehicle technology.
The two sides welcomed the improving interoperability through such initiatives as the implementation of the Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the armed forces of Japan and India during bilateral training.
The two ministers emphasized the need for all countries to seek peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law without the use of force, threat or any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo.
Japan also wants to reaffirm India’s support in promoting a “free and open Indo-Pacific vision” that Japan promotes with the United States as part of the Quad framework that also includes Australia as a counter to China’s assertiveness in the region. The two side welcomed increasing multilateral defense cooperation and exchanges including both Japan and India, including multilateral exercise “Malabar” involving Japan, the United States, India and Australia being conducted for two years in a row.
Last week, New Delhi commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier and is expanding its security ties with regional countries.
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[…] on September 8, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada held talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in Tokyo. During the meeting, Japan and India have agreed to deepen defense cooperation and hold […]