Japan and India Position Themselves as Architects of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Ahead of Quad Summit
Japan and India Commit to Driving Indo-Pacific Strategy at New Delhi Talks
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in New Delhi on Monday, pledging to serve as the primary driving force behind Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework — a declaration that sets the strategic tone ahead of Tuesday’s Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Bilateral Agreements: Economic Security and Defence
The two ministers agreed to accelerate cooperation across economic security, defence, and people-to-people exchanges. Their discussions built directly on the “Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade”, launched during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan last August.
Key commitments included strengthening supply chain resilience for critical materials, promoting investment and innovation, and advancing defence and security initiatives under the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation revised last year.
Both sides also flagged the upcoming 75th anniversary of Japan-India diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen bilateral momentum across all areas of cooperation.
Energy Security and Regional Stability
The ministers confirmed coordination on ensuring free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting shared concern over Middle East instability. They also agreed to cooperate on securing stable energy supplies and critical materials across Southeast and South Asia.
Regional issues — including the evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East — were discussed, with both sides committing to maintain close communication on emerging challenges.
Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: What Is at Stake
The bilateral talks served as a precursor to the broader Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, attended by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Motegi and Jaishankar.
The summit follows the previous Quad gathering held in Washington, D.C., on 1 July 2025. Motegi, in a video message shared by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, framed the meeting as an opportunity to exchange views on “the future of the Indo-Pacific in the face of structural changes in the international order.”
Quad Agenda: Key Focus Areas
The Quad’s convening in New Delhi underscores India’s growing centrality to the Indo-Pacific security architecture — and the extent to which Tokyo and New Delhi are positioning their bilateral relationship as the strategic spine of that framework.
