Press Release
October 28th, 2026
Ministry of Defense, Japan
On 28th October 2026, H.E. Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Defense of Japan, and H.E. Mr. Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence of the Republic of India, held a Japan-India Defense Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines.
The two Ministers welcomed the steady progress in Japan-India defense cooperation since their meeting in August, in line with the direction they had concurred on, including:
- Progress in discussions on concrete maritime security cooperation that serves the strategic and operational needs of both sides, including enhancing mine countermeasure capabilities and exploring the possibility of joint development in naval shipbuilding and design by leveraging Japan’s technological expertise and India’s production capabilities, facilitated through such opportunities as the visit of the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy to Japan;
- Progress in discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two air services, following the first-ever visit to India by Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircrafts during the Japan-India Air Force exercise “Veer Guardian 26”, as well as the visit to India by the Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defense Force conducted in conjunction with the exercise;
- The successful holding of the Japan-India Defense Industry Forum at the Embassy of India in Tokyo, with the participation of approximately 40 companies from both Japan and India.
The Ministers further concurred on accelerating discussions towards convening the 4th Japan-India Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) and the Japan-India Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo later this year.