What happened: Koizumi meets Modi and reviews defence cooperation

Japan’s Minister of Defence Shinjiro Koizumi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India during an official visit. The Prime Minister recalled detailed discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit held in July 2026. Modi appreciated steady momentum in defence collaboration between India and Japan and outlined a vision for further strengthening the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Prime Minister Modi linked India–Japan defence and security cooperation to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Modi also highlighted opportunities for Japanese defence firms and startups to partner with Indian defence companies for co-development and co-production under the Make in India initiative. Defence Minister Koizumi briefed Prime Minister Modi on progress in bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to deepen ties with India.

Background and earlier position: continuity through the July 2026 Annual Summit

Prime Minister Modi’s recall of discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi refers to leadership-level continuity in India–Japan engagement. The mention of the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit in July 2026 signals that defence collaboration is being sustained through successive summit-level discussions.

In the partnership framing used in the meeting communication, the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is treated as the umbrella for expanding cooperation. Within this umbrella, defence and security cooperation is presented alongside industry-linked defence collaboration.

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