Mon May 05 10:11:46 UTC 2025: **India and Japan Strengthen Defence Ties Amidst Regional Tensions**
New Delhi, May 5, 2025 – Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks today with his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, focusing on expanding bilateral defence cooperation and countering terrorism. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Minister Nakatani condemned the Pahalgam attack and expressed Japan’s strong solidarity with India. Both ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasized the need for increased collaboration to combat cross-border threats. Discussions also covered ways to boost India-Japan defence industrial cooperation and reviewed the security situation in the East and South China Seas, where China’s increasing military presence is a concern.
The meeting marks the second time the two defence ministers have met in six months, following a previous discussion in November 2024. A potential reciprocal supply and services agreement, allowing the militaries of both countries to utilize each other’s bases for repairs and resupply, was also reportedly on the agenda. The agreement would significantly enhance interoperability between the Indian and Japanese armed forces.
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