India, Japan hold key dialogue to boost ties in defence industrial collaboration, cyber security
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- India and Japan held their 8th Defence Policy Dialogue in Tokyo on July 13, 2026, covering military-to-military exchanges, maritime cooperation, defence exercises, capacity building, and defence equipment and technology cooperation.
- Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh led the Indian delegation, while Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Kano Koji headed the Japanese side, with both delegations discussing ways to deepen cooperation in cyber security, space, and defence industrial collaboration.
- Both sides expressed satisfaction with "growing convergence" on regional and global security issues and reiterated their commitment to a "free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific" founded on respect for international law.
- The dialogue came just 10 days after Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's first official visit to India (July 1–3) for the 16th India-Japan annual summit, with officials now preparing for a 2+2 ministerial meeting later this year.
- Defence Secretary Singh called on Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, conveyed greetings from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and invited Koizumi to visit India at the earliest opportunity.
- Singh began his visit by laying a wreath at the Self-Defense Forces Memorial Stone in Tokyo, paying tribute to members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who made the supreme sacrifice in service of their nation.
Why it matters: This is the 8th iteration of the India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue, convened just 10 days after PM Takaichi's first India visit. Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of existing defence ties and explored deepening cooperation in cyber, space, and defence industrial collaboration, with a 2+2 ministerial meeting slated for later this year as the next concrete milestone.
