Japan-India Defense Minister’s Telephone Conversation

May 8, 2020
Japan Ministry of Defense
in Japanese

On May 8, 2020, Minister KONO had a telephone conversation with Defence Minister of India, H.E. Mr. Rajnath Singh.

  1. The two Ministers exchanged views on issues such as the roles to be played by the defense authorities given the global spread of COVID-19. Minister Kono explained about the activities and infection-preventative measures Japan Self-Defense Forces have undertaken in their operation on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, and analysis by the SDF Central Hospital by using a presentation document (see attached).
  2. In consideration of the current COVID-19 situation, the two Ministers decided to postpone a Japan-India joint fighter aircraft exercise, which was concurred to proceed with coordination in the last 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting in November 2019. In view of the significance of the exercise as it will be the first fighter aircraft training jointly held by Japan and India, the two Ministers concurred to resume the coordination as soon as the COVID-19 situation gets resolved and embody the deepening of Japan-India defense cooperation in a tangible way.
  3. Further, two Ministers exchanged views on defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and India. Minister Kono, taking into consideration the implications of COVID-19, expressed the importance of both countries’ maintaining seamless defense posture and of continued and strengthened bilateral defense cooperation to uphold and reinforce a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, which is a common interest of both countries.
  4. The two Ministers agreed on the following three points, bearing in mind the circumstances arisen by the spread of COVID-19;
  1. sharing information, knowledge and lessons learned about the measures taken by the defense authorities towards overcoming COVID-19 at the earliest stage;
  2. necessity of sharing threat recognition based on the current circumstances and potential effects of the spread of COVID-19 on defense policy of each country; and
  3. promoting vigorously defense cooperation and exchanges to uphold and reinforce a Free and Open Indo-Pacific while maintaining communication between the defense authorities.