India Sees Japan as Top Strategic Partner Amid Global Economic, Security Challenges: Jaishankar

India sees Japan as a “top strategic partner” and will work closely with Tokyo to help “shape the global order” amid rising “economic” and “security challenges,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday at the “18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue.”

Welcoming Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to New Delhi, Jaishankar said ties between the two countries had evolved over the past two decades from a “largely economic relationship” into a “broad, comprehensive and strategic partnership.”

“India attaches very great priority to its friendship with Japan,” Jaishankar said, highlighting cooperation in forums such as the “Quad,” the “United Nations,” the “G4 grouping” and the “G20.”

He recalled that a speech by a former Japanese prime minister to India’s parliament had helped lay the foundation for the “Indo-Pacific” as a “political, economic and strategic concept,” adding that India’s “Indo-Pacific vision” and its “MAHASAGAR” maritime initiative aligned closely with Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy.

"The relationship today sees that our initiative, what we call MAHASAGAR, which is Oceans in a way, and our vision for the Indo-Pacific aligns closely with your Free and Open Indo-Pacific outlook," he said.

Jaishankar said both countries, as “leading democracies” and “major economies,” had a responsibility to work together to “shape the global order,” particularly at a time of heightened “geopolitical uncertainty.”

“Economic security” would be a key focus of the talks, he said, with discussions expected on “resilient supply chains,” “critical minerals,” and cooperation in “energy,” “health” and “maritime security.”

The two ministers are expected to review “bilateral priorities” following Motegi’s earlier meeting with Prime Minister “Narendra Modi.”

"Economic Security today is particularly paramount. I think both our countries attach enormous importance to it, and how to de-risk our own economies, and how to de-risk the international economy are both very important. So, we will be discussing resilient supply chains, critical minerals, how to address energy, health, and maritime security in our talks today. Next year we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, Jaishankar said.

The minister noted that India and Japan would mark “75 years of diplomatic relations” next year, describing the “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” as being on a “continuous upward trajectory.”

Jaishankar also pointed to growing convergence in the “Indo-Pacific” and “West Asia,” noting Motegi’s recent visits to the “Philippines,” “Qatar,” “Israel” and “Palestine,” which he said underscored shared “strategic” and “energy interests.”

"Special Strategic and Global Partnership is on a continuous upward trajectory, and I am sure that we will celebrate that in a very fitting manner. So today in our bilateral discussions, I hope to address with you key priorities in our ties – some of which were already discussed when you called on the Prime Minister," he added.