PM Modi, Japan Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi Discuss Deeper Defence and Security Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi on August 20, 2026, with both sides discussing ways to deepen defence and security cooperation under the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The meeting was reported by News on AIR on August 21.

During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the growing importance of India-Japan defence ties for maintaining peace, stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. He also encouraged greater participation by Japanese companies in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, particularly through co-development and co-production under Make in India.

Koizumi briefed the Prime Minister on progress in bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to expanding security ties with India. Modi also referred to discussions held with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in July 2026 and welcomed the steady momentum in the defence relationship.

The meeting followed detailed talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Koizumi on August 20. Their discussions covered maritime security, defence equipment and technology cooperation, military exercises, logistics and stronger coordination to protect sea lines of communication. Both countries also agreed to expand cooperation involving port access, maintenance and repair facilities and exchanges between their armed forces.

India and Japan have steadily increased the scale of their military engagement through exercises such as Dharma Guardian between their armies and JIMEX between their navies. Preparations are also underway for the Veer Guardian-26 air exercise, further expanding interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.

The discussions also come as Japan reviews restrictions governing the transfer of defence equipment and technology. This could open additional opportunities for collaboration with Indian defence companies in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing and maritime systems to future joint development programmes.

For India, closer defence-industrial cooperation with Japan supports the broader objective of reducing dependence on imported military equipment while gaining access to advanced technologies. Japan, meanwhile, increasingly views India as an important security partner in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Modi-Koizumi meeting therefore reinforces a defence relationship that is moving beyond joint exercises towards deeper industrial, technological and maritime cooperation, with both countries seeking a larger strategic role in the Indo-Pacific.