Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi touched down in New Delhi Wednesday evening . Her first visit comes as India and Japan mark 20 years of summits. It's a key moment, coinciding with tensions rising in Persian Gulf.
While in India,Takaichi plans to push for more Indo-Pacific collaboration and dive into new tech initiatives. Diplomatic sources say a joint declaration on economic safety and AI collaboration will roll out during the summit. “India is an indispensable partner in advancing the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” sources said. Rules-based order matters.
Takaichi's agenda includes talks on Japan's revamped Indo-Pacific Policy,which she unveiled in May in Vietnam. This policy turns focus from Bay of Bengal, as former PM Fumio Kishida had in 2023,towards Japan's strategic interests in Western Pacific. Tensions with China rising .
Thursday,Takaichi has meetings lined up before heading back to Tokyo Friday morning. She was set to visit Guwahati for a summit with Narendra Modi, but plans changed last minute. A special welcome awaits her at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a rare honor for heads of government .
Both nations are wrapping up around ten MoUs to announce after talks at Hyderabad House. Key issues: energy resilience, biogas,oil and gas,critical minerals, battery tech, AI,and pharmaceuticals. Takaichi will also speak at business meeting in New Delhi,with over 100 Japanese business reps present. More MoUs expected there.
The Green Ammonia Project in Odisha,backed by Japan,is under discussion. So is the Next Gen Mobility Partnership, tying into India's mobility efforts with economic partners.
India and Japan have ramped up cooperation lately with Gulf instability. In May, Indian navy refueled two Japan Maritime Self Defence Forces ships in Arabian Sea, showing deeper maritime ties. More joint naval exercises could be next.
They're also likely to ink a deal on energy resilience, aiming to avoid crises like past oil shortages after Strait of Hormuz blockade. Talks focus on diversifying energy sources and building strategic reserves for security.
Takaichi's visit highlights shared commitment to stronger ties and tackling common challenges in a complex geopolitical scene. As dynamics shift,how will their partnership adapt? Economic cooperation and regional stability remain key…
