Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit during Prime Minister Takaichi’s official visit to India from July 1 to 3, 2026. It was her first official visit to India. The summit reviewed developments since the previous annual summit and focused on further strengthening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership in an increasingly volatile and uncertain geopolitical environment.
The summit marked continuity in the relationship while placing greater emphasis on tangible cooperation in industrial ecosystems, resilient supply chains, technology networks, energy security, and regional resilience. The two countries identified defence and security cooperation; economic partnership, including economic security, energy resilience, technology, and innovation; and people-to-people exchanges as the three priority areas. The partnership was presented as a mutually complementary relationship between natural and indispensable partners.
Strategic Convergence and the Indo-Pacific
India and Japan reiterated their commitment to an international order that is free, open, and based on the rule of law. India welcomed Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision and noted its close alignment with the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions (MAHASAGAR).
The changing geopolitical environment has reinforced the importance of bilateral cooperation. The summit documents placed greater emphasis on operationalising the Indo-Pacific vision through economic cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, clean energy and pharmaceuticals, alongside diversified and reliable supply chains.
The Northeastern Region of India was highlighted as an important Indo-Pacific gateway. India and Japan welcomed cooperation on road networks, bridges, health care, forest management, disaster risk reduction, semiconductors, biofuel, skill development, Japanese-language training, and human-resource exchange. They also reaffirmed the objective of developing industrial value chains connecting the Northeast with the Bay of Bengal in cooperation with BIMSTEC and other relevant partners. Moreover, they acknowledged the successful holding of the Sixth India-Japan Conclave in Shillong in February 2026 and called for an early convening of the next Act East Forum (AEF).
The two countries welcomed progress under the Quad and highlighted cooperation in maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, including critical minerals, critical and emerging technologies, humanitarian assistance, and emergency response. They also reiterated support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
Defence and Security Cooperation
Defence and security cooperation remained a major pillar of the summit. India and Japan noted that bilateral defence and security cooperation is on an upward trajectory and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation under the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. The two sides directed their ministers to hold the fourth India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Meeting in Tokyo by the end of 2026.
Cooperation among the armed services has expanded through exercises including the Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX), while Japan also participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 in Visakhapatnam. The two countries agreed to deepen maritime security cooperation through enhanced exercises, maritime domain awareness using satellite capabilities, naval maintenance, repair and overhaul cooperation, and defence equipment and technology cooperation under the framework of Make in India.
The Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project represents an important development in defence technology cooperation. The two prime ministers noted that an agreement had been reached in principle on the remaining technical details and expressed the expectation of an early conclusion of the project.
The broader defence relationship has developed through joint military exercises across all three services. The Dharma Guardian exercise between Indian and Japanese armed forces (Army) began with a focus on jungle-warfare and counter-insurgency, while Shinyuu Maitri and Veer Guardian exercises (Air Force) cover transport aircraft and fighter jets, respectively. Bilateral maritime cooperation through JIMEX also complements India’s and Japan’s participation in the Malabar exercises, in which Japan became a permanent participant in 2015.
Japan’s review of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology was welcomed by India. Japan’s evolving defence outlook also creates possibilities for deeper defence-industrial cooperation with trusted partners, including India. Potential areas identified for future cooperation could include defence platforms, next-generation robotics, and unmanned ground vehicles, while protection of intellectual property and prevention of diversion remain important considerations.
Economic Security and Resilient Supply Chains
Economic security has emerged as a principal strategic agenda. India and Japan have expressed their concerns over economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, arbitrary export restrictions, supply-chain disruptions and price manipulation, particularly in critical minerals and critical industrial sectors.
The India-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation promotes project-based collaboration in semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, including AI, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals. The two countries also agreed to further protect high-technology trade while mutually easing export-control challenges.
The Economic Security Initiative launched at the previous summit has progressed through the inaugural Private-Sector Economic Security Dialogue and the second Economic Security Dialogue. The India-Japan Fact Sheet 2.0 reflects growing government-to-government and business-to-business engagement in this area.
Critical minerals cooperation is strengthened through upstream exploration and technical expertise. The Memorandum of Cooperation on Geology and Mineral Exploration seeks to enhance cooperation in the exploration of critical minerals. The emphasis on resilient supply chains also extends to batteries, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Batteries to promote battery-related projects and build a trusted, resilient, and sustainable battery supply chain.
Also, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed to strengthen the resilient pharmaceutical supply chains, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key starting materials (KSMs).
Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation
Technology and innovation have become central pillars of India-Japan relations. The two countries adopted a Joint Statement of Cooperation in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), elevating bilateral cooperation towards a strategic research and development partnership in AI.
The AI cooperation seeks a roadmap covering the entire AI technology stack in pursuit of a shared vision of safe, secure, trustworthy, inclusive, and human-centric AI. The inaugural India-Japan AI Strategic Dialogue was also welcomed.
The outcomes also include a Memorandum of Cooperation between the India’s AI mission and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), which promotes institutional cooperation between the India’s AI mission and Japan’s GENIAC initiative (Generative AI Accelerator Challenge) through business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, webinars on AI Policies and challenges, and support for joint projects through access to computing resources. IIT Bombay, BharatGen Technology Foundation, and Japan’s National Institute of Informatics would collaborate on large language models (LLMs) for enhanced scientific reasoning through joint research exchanges. SarvamAI and Preferred Network would cooperate across the full AI technology stack, including foundation models.
Cooperation also extends to National Internet Registry operations, IPv6 adoption, Internet security improvements, capacity building, and Internet governance through the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC). Partnerships involving RIKEN, Japan, C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms), and the National Centre for Biological Sciences-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCBS-TIFR) would strengthen cooperation in deep-tech and life sciences, as well as basic biological and neuroscience research.
Energy Resilience and Clean Energy
Energy security has acquired greater strategic importance for both countries as major energy-consuming nations affected by volatility in global energy markets. India and Japan agreed to strengthen the resilience of energy supply chains and promote stability in global energy markets.
The two countries adopted a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience providing for cooperation in areas such as on strategic stockpiling and reserve mechanisms for crude oil and petroleum products and promotes joint investments across the maritime energy transport value chain. Cooperation on strategic petroleum reserves would include exchange of best practices and technical collaboration.
The countries also advanced cooperation in clean energy. The Cooperative Biogas for Growth initiative aims to establish 1,000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across India by leveraging the extensive network of dairy cooperatives. Cooperation would also cover clean ammonia, green hydrogen, solar photovoltaic technologies, and nuclear energy.
Trade, Investment, Infrastructure, and Mobility
Japan’s private investment in India was welcomed, with both sides noting progress towards the 10-trillion yen investment target. The two countries agreed to improve the investment environment through the fast-track mechanism under the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership.
More than 15 years after the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India and Japan agreed to accelerate the review of its implementation and promote its full and effective utilisation. Cooperation would also cover logistics, textiles, food processing, agriculture, automotives, and industrial capital goods. Financial cooperation would include payment systems and local currency transactions.
The India-Japan SME Forum and Japan’s SME Mission on the aeronautical sector were welcomed. Greater participation of MSMEs, stronger links between Japanese enterprises and India’s Tier-II and Tier-III supplier ecosystem, industrial collaborations, and technology partnerships were emphasised.
Japan’s development cooperation continues to support projects including Mumbai Metro Line 11, Bengaluru Metro Phase 3, healthcare delivery, medical education and nursing education systems in Maharashtra, and sustainable horticulture in Punjab.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail remains a flagship project. Japan reaffirmed its commitment to extending the necessary cooperation towards India’s target of commencing commercial operations on priority sections in 2027. The two countries also welcomed the Next-Generation Mobility Partnership, covering rail, automotive and road infrastructure, aviation, shipbuilding and ports, logistics, and urban development.
People-to-People, Science and Regional Cooperation
Science and Technology cooperation includes joint research collaborations, exchange of students, scientists, and researchers, industry-academia collaborations, and internship opportunities in Japanese companies. Key programmes include the LOTUS Programme, Sakura Science Exchange Programme, India-Japan Cooperative Science Programme (IJCSP), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) MEXT Scholarship, and the Inter-University Exchange Project. India and Japan also noted progress on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission and welcomed cooperation in quantum science and technology.
People-to-people exchanges remain an important component of the partnership. Visitors between the two countries crossed 5,40,000 in 2025. The two sides supported Japanese-language education in India and highlighted the role of creative industries including anime, manga, gaming and films.
The India-Japan Governors’ Network for Friendship and Exchange reflects expanding sub-national cooperation, with growing links between Indian States and Japanese prefectures and municipalities.
Regional and Global Issues
India and Japan expressed serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and opposed unilateral actions that endanger the safety, freedom of navigation, and freedom of overflight, or attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They stressed peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with the international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The two sides also expressed concern over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation in accordance with relevant United Nations National Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. They discussed the situation in Myanmar and the Middle East, supported just and long-lasting peace in Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment in promoting cooperation in Africa.
On multilateral issues, India and Japan reiterated their commitment to the urgent reform of the UNSC, including the expansion of permanent and non-permanent categories. They expressed mutual support for each other’s candidature for a permanent seat in the reformed UNSC and noted mutual support for their respective candidature for non-permanent seats in 2028–29 and 2033–34.
India and Japan also reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation on disaster risk reduction, with Japan’s supporting India’s hosting of the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2030. Both sides strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.
Way Forward
The 16th Summit demonstrates a shift from economic trade to economic security, industrial resilience, trusted technology partnerships, and private-sector-led implementation. Economic security has developed rapidly through dialogues and project-based cooperation, while defence-technology cooperation continues to advance more cautiously. Both the countries agreed on co-development in sectors such as semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, pharmaceuticals, etc.
The relationship, nevertheless, retains important challenges, including uneven implementation timelines, intellectual property concerns, and the need to translate frameworks into durable industrial and technological capabilities. The summit’s significance, therefore, lies not merely in the number of agreements but in their implementation across critical sectors.
As the two countries marked 74 years of diplomatic relations (established on April 28, 1952) through the India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons, they renewed their commitment to the Special Strategic and Global Partnership and deeper people-to-people ties. This summit, thus, provides framework for India and Japan to strengthen shared growth, prosperity, resilience and strategic convergence in the years ahead.
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