Ensuring peace and stability in Indo Pacific region; India, Japan deepen maritime cooperation

New Delhi, August 21: With consolidating ties, India and Japan aim to agree on the need to strengthen defense and security cooperation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region with the two countries seeking greater interaction between their defense forces.

Recognizing the need of peace and stability of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera concluded that the peace and stability is crucial for the prosperity of Indo Pacific region.

The India Japan statement said that the two countries said they had “shared interests in expanding cooperation in the maritime security domain and welcomed the fact that Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Indian Navy are working towards the signing of the Implementing Arrangement for Deeper Cooperation between the JMSDF and the Indian Navy.”

“The Ministers also reaffirmed their intention to pursue cooperation in engaging with countries of the Indo-Pacific, including through their capacity building,” the India-Japan statement said. The two sides also firmed up a project in the area of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and robotics, marking the start of first such bilateral initiative.

They said Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Indian Navy are working towards firming up an arrangement for deeper cooperation between the two navies.

"The ministers shared the recognition that it is important for the two countries to further strengthen defence and security cooperation under the 'Japan-lndia Special Strategic and Global Partnership' that aligns Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy' with India's 'Act East Policy'," a joint press statement said.

The two ministers also deliberated on the situation in Korean Peninsula.