India-Japan reaffirm shared strategic goals as EAM S. Jaishankar and Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi hold the 18th Strategic Dialogue, focusing on Indo-Pacific security, supply chains, economic cooperation, and global stability amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
India-Japan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to work closely toward shared strategic objectives amid an increasingly uncertain global environment, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi co-chaired the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi.
The high-level dialogue focused on strengthening cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas, including economic engagement, maritime security, resilient supply chains, critical minerals, emerging technologies, people-to-people (P2P) exchanges, and multilateral collaboration. The discussions underscored the growing strategic convergence between the two democracies as they seek to contribute to regional stability and global economic resilience.
Following the dialogue, EAM Jaishankar described the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership as being on an “upward trajectory,” highlighting its expanding role in shaping the evolving world order. He emphasized that the partnership holds immense potential not only for regional security but also for de-risking the international economy at a time of geopolitical volatility.
In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar stated that the discussions reflected a deep mutual understanding and shared interests between the two countries. He noted that both sides exchanged views on developments in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as broader global and regional challenges.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar extended a warm welcome to his Japanese counterpart, noting the strong personal rapport between the two leaders. Adding a lighter moment to the diplomatic engagement, Jaishankar highlighted their shared enthusiasm for cricket, revealing that Motegi gifted him a Japan national cricket team jersey, while he reciprocated with a bat signed by the Indian cricket team.
During his opening remarks at the Strategic Dialogue, Jaishankar stressed that India places the highest priority on its relationship with Japan. He recalled that over the past two decades, bilateral ties have evolved from being largely economic to becoming comprehensive and strategic in nature.
India, he said, attaches great importance to working with Japan in major international forums, including the Quad grouping, the United Nations, the G4 framework for UN Security Council reform, and the G20. He emphasized that cooperation in these platforms is vital for promoting a rules-based international order and addressing global challenges collectively.
Reflecting on the historical foundations of the Indo-Pacific concept, Jaishankar recalled that it was a Japanese Prime Minister who first articulated the idea in the Indian Parliament, laying the groundwork for the Indo-Pacific as a political, economic, and strategic construct. He noted that India’s Indo-Pacific vision, including its maritime initiative “Mahasagar,” aligns closely with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific outlook.
The External Affairs Minister underlined that India and Japan, as leading democracies and major global economies, have both the opportunity and responsibility to shape the global order. In the current climate of geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and economic uncertainty, he said it is even more crucial for the two nations to work in close coordination toward shared strategic goals.
Maritime security and supply chain resilience featured prominently in the discussions, reflecting shared concerns over freedom of navigation, regional stability, and economic security in the Indo-Pacific. Cooperation in critical minerals and advanced technologies was also highlighted as essential for reducing dependencies and strengthening industrial and technological ecosystems in both countries.
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Jaishankar also noted that India and Japan will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027, a milestone that offers an opportunity to further deepen bilateral cooperation. He described the special, strategic, and global partnership as continuously strengthening, driven by shared democratic values, economic complementarities, and a common vision for regional and global peace.
The 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue reaffirmed the growing alignment between New Delhi and Tokyo at a time when global power dynamics are shifting rapidly. As uncertainties persist across regions, both nations signaled their resolve to act as stabilizing forces and trusted partners in shaping a more secure, inclusive, and resilient international order.
