India-Japan Joint Press Statement
Issued by Ministry of Defence
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary On August 20, 2026, the Defence Ministers of India and Japan met in New Delhi to deepen their "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Key outcomes include the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation and the establishment of a Joint Secretary-level Working Group to coordinate defense initiatives. Critical upcoming items include the "Veer Guardian 26" air exercise, a logistics tabletop exercise in September 2026, and the "2+2" Ministerial Meeting scheduled for later this year in Tokyo.
Key Points / Main Content
Maritime Security and Logistics
- Memorandum of Arrangement: Signed a framework to advance maritime cooperation, specifically focusing on information sharing for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
- Infrastructure and Maintenance: Committed to the reciprocal provision of ship repair facilities and logistical support, including the use of ports and maintenance exchanges.
- Strategic Coordination: Affirmed the protection of Sea Lines of Communications through mutual naval visits and Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchanges.
Defence Exercises and Operational Cooperation
- Air Force Milestone: Scheduled the "Veer Guardian 26" exercise, marking the first time Japanese Air Self-Defence Force fighter aircraft will visit India.
- Bilateral and Trilateral Drills: Welcomed the progress of "Dharma Guardian" (Army) and "JIMEX" (Maritime) exercises, as well as the trilateral PASSEX involving Indonesia.
- New Frontiers: Agreed to promote exchanges between Special Operations Forces and pursue cooperation with India’s newly established integrated theatre commands.
Equipment, Technology, and Industry
- Transfer Projects: Prioritized the early realization of the UNICORN shipborne antenna system transfer, the first such project between the two nations.
- Joint Development: Explored naval shipbuilding and design synergies by leveraging Japan’s technology and India’s production capabilities under the "Make in India" framework.
- Research and Development: Committed to deepening R&D cooperation between India’s DRDO and Japan’s ATLA on state-of-the-art technologies and confirmed the intent to convene a Defence Industry Forum.
Institutional Coordination
- Working Group: Established a new Working Group at the Director-General/Joint Secretary level to manage operational, intelligence, equipment, and industrial cooperation.
- High-Level Dialogue: Agreed to accelerate preparations for the Fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting ("2+2") in Tokyo this year.
Impact Analysis
Indian and Japanese Armed Forces (Navy, Air Force, Army) Impact The forces will experience increased interoperability and operational complexity through enhanced joint exercises, shared maritime data, and the integration of unmanned systems. Action Required Coordinate the "Veer Guardian 26" fighter deployment, participate in the September 2026 logistics tabletop exercise, and implement information-sharing protocols for Maritime Domain Awareness.
Defence Industry and Research Organizations (DRDO & ATLA) Impact There is a shift toward joint development and technology transfer, particularly in naval shipbuilding and integrated communication systems. Action Required Advance discussions on operational requirements for new equipment, convene the Defence Industry Forum, and finalize the ship repair arrangement.
Government and Ministry Officials Impact The bilateral relationship is becoming more institutionalized through dedicated working groups and regular high-level ministerial meetings. Action Required Establish the Director-General/Joint Secretary-level Working Group and organize the "2+2" Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo before the end of 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership: The foundational bilateral framework guiding the defense and strategic cooperation between India and Japan to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation: A signed agreement providing a framework for advanced cooperation and information sharing between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy.
UNICORN integrated communications antenna system: The first defense equipment transfer project between the two countries, representing a symbol of deepening cooperation in defense technology.
Fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”): A high-level strategic forum scheduled to accelerate discussions on bilateral defense and foreign policy coordination.
DRDO and ATLA: The primary research and development agencies (India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency) collaborating on state-of-the-art defense technologies.
Official Gazette PDF Record
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Ministry of Defence
India-Japan Joint Press Statement
Posted On: 20 AUG 2026 1:06PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi held a bilateral
meeting in New Delhi on 20 August 2026. The joint press statement is as follows:
“On 20 August 2026, Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Defense of Japan, and Shri Rajnath Singh,
Minister of Defence of the Republic of India, held a Japan-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting in New
Delhi.
The two Ministers welcomed the steady strengthening of defence cooperation, including cooperation
among the respective Ministries and the Services of the two countries that share strategic perspectives,
under the “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, which constitutes one of the pillars for
peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Recalling the Japan-India Joint Statement issued by the leaders of the two countries in July 2026, the two
Ministers affirmed their commitment, under their leadership, to further deepen defence cooperation to
realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The two Ministers concurred on the importance of sharing assessments of the regional and international
security environment between the two countries at a time of heightened global tensions. They expressed
their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that impede freedom and safety of navigation and
overflight, as well as to any attempts to change the status-quo by force or coercion.
The two Ministers concurred on deepening operational cooperation in the field of maritime security in a
practical and effective manner. They accordingly affirmed their commitment to strengthening Maritime
Security Cooperation and signed the Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation
between the Ministry of Defense of Japan and Ministry of Defence of India.
The Memorandum provides a framework for further advancing cooperation between the two countries in
the field of maritime security. Specifically, it includes the strengthening of cooperation between the Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy, including information sharing in the field of Maritime
Domain Awareness (MDA), as well as enhanced cooperation in areas such as Search and Rescue (SAR)
and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
The two Ministers affirmed that they would strengthen coordination between both sides for the protection
of Sea Lines of Communications through mutual visits by naval ships and units, joint exercises, personnel
and Subject Matter Expert (SME) exchanges and logistical support including use of ports, maintenance
and repair facilities. Such cooperation is vital not only to Japan and India, but also to the region and the
international community.
The two Ministers concurred on moving swiftly to realize concrete maritime security cooperation that
serves the strategic and operational needs. They further shared the view that both sides should maximize
synergies to enhance mine countermeasures capabilities and explore the possibility of joint development
in naval shipbuilding and design by leveraging Japan’s technological expertise and India’s productioncapabilities in accordance with their respective relevant policies. They further shared the view that both
sides should leverage each other’s strengths in the field of defense shipbuilding and related areas, and
deepen discussions on Japan’s use of India’s production capabilities under the framework of “Make in
India”. The Two Ministers also concurred on progressing reciprocal provision of ship repair facilities
including the conclusion of ship repair arrangement in near future.
The two Ministers welcomed the steady expansion and deepening of bilateral exercises conducted by
Japan and India, including the Japan-India Army exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ and the Japan-India
Maritime Exercise “JAIMEX”. They particularly welcomed the steady progress in coordination for the
Japan-India Air Force exercise “Veer Guardian 26”, scheduled to be held this year, under which Japan Air
Self-Defence Force fighter aircraft will, for the first time, visit India and participate in the exercise. The
two Ministers concurred on further deepening cooperation in bilateral exercises through enhanced
complexities, integration of unmanned systems and pursuing joint exercises at short notice, whenever the
opportunities arise.
With a view to further advancing cooperation among the Services of the two countries, the two Ministers
concurred on promoting exchanges between their respective Special Operations Forces and pursuing
cooperation with India’s integrated theatre commands following their establishment.
Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh welcomed Japan’s recent review of its framework for the transfer of
defence equipment and technology, and expressed his expectation that Japan would further contribute to
peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the wider world. He particularly expressed his
expectations for the further deepening of the defence and technology partnership between the two
countries.
The two Ministers shared the view that the project concerning the shipborne UNICORN integrated
communications antenna system, as the first defence equipment transfer project between the two
countries, represents a symbol of the deepening cooperation between Japan and India in the transfer of
defence equipment and technology. Under the leadership of two Ministers, they affirmed their
commitment to working together towards the early realization of the project.
With a view to materializing other projects in the field of defence equipment and technology, they further
concurred on advancing discussions among the respective Services of the two countries concerning
operational requirements. The two Ministers also affirmed their commitment to deepening the defence
R&D cooperation between DRDO & ATLA in the field of state-of-the-art defence technologies. Both
Ministers also confirmed their intention to convene a Defence Industry Forum.
The two Ministers welcomed the first trilateral naval PASSEX exercise involving Japan, India and
Indonesia, which was conducted in February this year. With a view to taking a comprehensive perspective
of the Indo-Pacific and contributing jointly to peace and stability in the region and the world, they
concurred on further deepening cooperation with third countries, through high level exchanges, exercises
and other relevant initiatives.
The two Ministers concurred on further promoting cooperation through the Indo-Pacific Logistics
Network (IPLN) to support partner countries in the event of a natural disaster, through transporting of
personnel and supplies. They welcomed that the second tabletop exercise of the IPLN is scheduled to be
held at the Japan Ministry of Defense in September this year.
Recalling the guidance set forth in the Japan-India Joint Statement issued by the leaders of the two
countries in July 2026, the two Ministers concurred on accelerating discussions towards convening the
Fourth Japan-India Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) in Tokyo in this year.
The two Ministers further concurred that Japan and India will hold consultations, when necessary, to
ensure the security of both countries and peace and stability in the region.The two Ministers concurred on establishing a Working Group, headed at the Director-General/ Joint
Secretary level to advance cooperation in an integrated manner across the operational, intelligence,
equipment, technology and industrial domains, while fully respecting each country’s respective policies
and sovereign choices. The Working Group will provide overall coordination for the directions of
cooperation concurred upon by the two Ministers, maximize synergies among the various areas of
cooperation, and accelerate their implementation.
Prior to the meeting, Defense Minister KOIZUMI paid homage to India’s fallen heroes by laying a wreath
at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and he was received with the ceremonial Tri-Service Guard of
Honour. Defense Minister KOIZUMI also visited the Western Naval Command (WNC) at Mumbai and
Indian Naval Ship Chennai.”
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