Japan Defense Minister visits India to boost defense cooperation

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a visit aimed at bolstering defense technology cooperation with India. He was welcomed by his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, who greeted him with a traditional Japanese "Konichiwa Koizumi San!" on social media.

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Konichiwa Koizumi San!

Koizumi's visit, his first to India, began in Mumbai on Wednesday. There, he inspected a Guard of Honour at the Western Naval Command, paid respects at the National War Memorial, and received operational briefings aboard the indigenous stealth destroyer INS Chennai. He also held strategic discussions with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahajan Vatsayan.

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Happy to welcome my Japanese counterpart on his maiden visit to India.

In New Delhi, Koizumi and Singh are scheduled to hold bilateral meetings to further strengthen defense relations and promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The discussions are expected to focus on deepening maritime security cooperation and advancing collaboration on defense equipment and technology under India's 'Make-in-India' initiative. This follows Japan's revision of its principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology.

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Welcome to India, Minister Koizumi @shinjirokoiz, Defense Minister of Japan! The 2-day program began yesterday with a visit to the Western Naval Command in Mumbai. Had fruitful discussions on advancing maritime cooperation.

The Ministry of Defence stated that the meeting provides an opportunity to build a roadmap for advancing bilateral defense and security cooperation. Both nations share a common vision for a free, open, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The Japanese minister's two-day visit underscores the growing momentum in bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries.

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The meeting is expected to further strengthen bilateral defence relations, enhance strategic trust and cooperation, promote stability & security in the Indo-Pacific region, and identify new areas of collaboration.