Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on August 20, 2026 | Photo: PIB/Ministry of Defence
India and Japan have agreed to advance existing maritime security cooperation, including information sharing, naval exercises, ship repair and logistics support, as part of wider defence cooperation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India’s Defence Minister, and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan’s Defence Minister, held talks in New Delhi on August 20 and signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation. The memorandum provides a framework for cooperation between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The arrangement covers maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The two countries also agreed to strengthen coordination to protect sea lines of communication through naval ship visits, joint exercises, personnel exchanges and logistical support involving ports and maintenance facilities.
The ministers agreed to explore cooperation in mine countermeasures and possible joint development in naval shipbuilding and design. They also agreed to work toward reciprocal provision of ship repair facilities and to examine cooperation under the “Make in India” framework.
The memorandum is part of wider military cooperation between India and Japan. The countries conduct the Dharma Guardian army exercise and JAIMEX maritime exercise. The joint statement said Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircraft will visit India for the first time to participate in the Veer Guardian 26 air exercise this year.
The ministers also agreed to expand exchanges between their Special Operations Forces and explore cooperation with India’s integrated theatre commands following their establishment.
Defence technology cooperation was also discussed. The two sides agreed to work toward early implementation of the shipborne UNICORN integrated communications antenna project, identified in the statement as the first defence equipment transfer project between India and Japan. They also agreed to deepen defence research cooperation between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency.
The countries will establish a working group at Director-General/Joint Secretary level to coordinate cooperation across operational, intelligence, equipment, technology and industrial areas.
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