Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara has called for an “integrated joint exercise” between the Indian Armed Forces and Japanese Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces. The exercise will be managed by a joint operations command to be established by March 2025 to oversee the operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Kihara discussed the plan in an interview with Nikkei on Tuesday during a visit to the Indian capital along with Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa for “2-plus-2” ministerial talks on foreign and defense affairs.
The two countries discussed revising and updating by the end of this year a joint declaration on security cooperation signed in 2008. They agreed to advance security cooperation through joint drills in addition to deepening bilateral ties in the fields of space and cybersecurity.
“Japan and India currently hold their respective ground, maritime and air drills, and these have been expanding in recent years,” Kihara said. “Integrated joint exercises should be held, and we want to see that happen” to improve our capability to handle emergency situations.
Integrated drills would be more complex compared to conventional maneuvers in one domain, like land or sea.
“We are examining a maintenance plan for Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels in India,” Kihara said. “It will be strategically important for Japan as it will lead to greater flexibility in the operations of Japanese ships.”
India has experience of repairing U.S. and British naval vessels. Strengthening cooperation with the Western bloc, including Japan, will be important to Indian strategies in the context of China’s rising influence.
In the talks, the two countries also reviewed progress made on the transfer of a unified complex radio antenna (UNICORN) to India. This will be Japan’s second export of finished defense equipment to a foreign country. Kihara emphasized the importance of transferring defense equipment, saying that “it should be aggressively promoted as part of Japan’s broader strategy to bolster its defense industry.”
“Self-defense forces have been our sole market in the past, but we should actively leverage equipment transfer to boost deterrence against enemy nations of our allies and like-minded countries,” he said.
India is currently calling for tenders for transport aircraft, and is developing new engines for stealth advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA). France and other countries have added their names to the project.
Japan also wants to promote local production of materiel in India as much as possible in support of the Modi administration’s “Make in India” policy. Kihara said technical cooperation with India aligns with the vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” and will be actively pursued.
Kihara alluded to Russia’s invasion to Ukraine in early 2022. “I never imagined that it would last this long,” he said. “The lesson Japan learned is that stockpiling ammunition and energy, as well as securing transportation, will be crucial to maintaining a war footing during emergencies,” he said.
Kihara said promoting defense ties with India supports shared strategic interests and fundamental values, such as democracy and the rule of law. It also helps keep India in touch with members of the international community working to contain Russia.
