Modi, Takaichi reaffirm shared commitment to strengthen India-Japan partnership amid global security shifts…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, and congratulated her on assuming office, as both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The two leaders discussed advancing cooperation across economic security, defence, and talent mobility, underscoring that stronger bilateral ties are essential for global peace, stability, and prosperity.
Sharing details of the conversation on X, Modi said, “Had a warm conversation with Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. Congratulated her on assuming office and discussed our shared vision for advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with focus on economic security, defence cooperation and talent mobility. We agreed that stronger India-Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity.”
The call marks one of the earliest high-level exchanges between New Delhi and Tokyo since Takaichi took office as Japan’s first woman prime minister earlier this month. Both leaders signalled a renewed momentum in the strategic partnership, which has emerged as a key pillar of regional cooperation amid evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
Modi had also extended his congratulations to Takaichi following her election, calling her victory a landmark moment in Japan’s political history. “Heartiest congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your election as the Prime Minister of Japan. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Our deepening ties are vital for peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” he wrote on X.
Responding to the message, Prime Minister Takaichi said, “I look forward to working with Your Excellency to further promote the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”
The exchange of messages reflects the mutual emphasis placed by both governments on expanding the scope of cooperation between the two Asian democracies. India and Japan share a longstanding partnership that spans economic development, infrastructure, technology, and defence, and both countries have positioned themselves as key advocates of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Takaichi, a senior leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has previously held ministerial roles including internal affairs and communications. Her rise to the country’s top political office marks a historic first, as she becomes Japan’s first woman prime minister.
In her first address to Japan’s Parliament, the Diet, Takaichi outlined a robust policy agenda focusing on defence, fiscal expansion, and cost-of-living measures. According to Kyodo News, she pledged to raise Japan’s defence spending to two per cent of GDP by March—two years ahead of the previously announced target of fiscal 2027. The move aligns with Tokyo’s growing concerns over regional security challenges and the need to modernise its defence capabilities.
Takaichi also emphasised her intention to pursue an “aggressive fiscal policy,” signalling a continuation of expansionary spending to address economic headwinds and stimulate growth. The 64-year-old leader said tackling rising living costs would be her government’s “top priority,” reflecting domestic pressures from inflation and global economic uncertainty.
On the diplomatic front, Takaichi reiterated Japan’s commitment to a multilateral approach, pledging to strengthen dialogue with key regional partners such as India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. She affirmed Japan’s support for advancing a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” an idea that Tokyo and New Delhi have jointly championed in recent years as a counterweight to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
While calling the alliance with the United States the “cornerstone” of Japan’s diplomatic and security policy, Takaichi struck a balanced tone on relations with Beijing. She described China as an “important neighbour” with which Japan must maintain “constructive and stable” ties and promote a “strategic and mutually beneficial” relationship.
Her remarks suggest continuity in Japan’s broader diplomatic framework while signalling a more assertive stance on security issues. Observers in both India and Japan see this as a potential opening for greater strategic coordination, particularly in the areas of maritime security, defence technology, and economic resilience.
India and Japan have deepened cooperation under their Special Strategic and Global Partnership framework established in 2014. The two countries have collaborated in areas ranging from high-speed rail projects and semiconductor supply chains to clean energy and digital innovation. Defence ties have also expanded through joint military exercises, information sharing, and maritime cooperation, especially within the Quad grouping alongside the United States and Australia.
