New Delhi [India] : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani, in New Delhi, reaffirming the growing strength of India-Japan strategic ties. Singh expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for standing in solidarity with India following the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
Opening the India-Japan Defence Ministerial Meeting, Singh welcomed General Nakatani and his delegation, recalling their previous interaction in Vientiane, Laos in November 2024. He emphasized the mutual goal of deepening collaboration in defence technology, industry, and interoperability between the armed forces.
“I would like to thank the government of Japan for its strong expression of support after the Pahalgam attack,” Singh stated. He also praised Nakatani for playing a crucial role in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. “You laid the foundation for a strong defence partnership by concluding key agreements on defence equipment, technical cooperation, and military information protection. I am confident our cooperation will scale new heights,” he added.
This marks the second meeting between Singh and Nakatani within six months, following their earlier talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in November 2024.
Earlier in the day, General Nakatani received a Guard of Honour in Delhi and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial. Singh personally received and greeted him during the ceremony.
A press release from the Ministry of Defence highlighted the evolving India-Japan relationship, noting that since the elevation of ties to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014, defence and security have become critical pillars of cooperation. The release emphasized that growing defence exchanges reflect a shared strategic vision and mutual commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.