India and Japan Strengthen Indo-Pacific Defense and Tech Ties

India and Japan conducted a series of high-level diplomatic engagements in New Delhi on September 21 and 22, 2026, to advance their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Taro Kono, leading a delegation of parliamentarians from the Liberal Democratic Party, met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh to coordinate regional security and economic stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defense technology collaboration, joint military exercises, and the creation of resilient supply chains. Specific areas of cooperation identified include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, batteries, and pharmaceuticals. These meetings follow the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit held in July 2026, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi established the current strategic directions for the partnership.

Before arriving in the capital, the Japanese delegation visited Bengaluru to assess India's innovation ecosystem. The lawmakers toured the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Space Research Organisation, and Bharat Electronics Limited to evaluate deep-tech capabilities. The visit was conducted under the Ministry of External Affairs' Distinguished Visitors Programme to ensure long-term stability and prosperity in the region.