PM Modi, Japan's Takaichi deepen strategic partnership with focus on trade, security and Indo-Pacific

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday reaffirmed the strength of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with both leaders pledging to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, technology, supply chains and regional security.

Addressing a special media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Takaichi's visit — her first official trip to India since assuming office — reflected the growing importance both countries attach to their bilateral relationship.

Takaichi arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. Although it is her first official visit to India, the two leaders have already met twice this year at the G7 Summit in France last month and on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025.

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She was accompanied by a high-level official delegation as well as a large business delegation, highlighting the growing significance of commercial and investment ties between the two countries.

The Japanese prime minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday morning before holding restricted and delegation-level talks with Modi at Hyderabad House.

According to Misri, the discussions covered a wide spectrum of cooperation, including trade and investment, economic security, defence, supply chain resilience, emerging technologies, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.

"The leaders reflected on the very strong foundation of our bilateral ties across multiple sectors," Misri said, adding that both sides recognised the contribution of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership to peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The foreign secretary said the talks reaffirmed the exceptional level of trust that underpins India-Japan relations.

Recalling the vision of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Misri noted that the discussions began with a reference to Abe's belief that "a strong Japan and a strong India were in each other's interest and, indeed, in the regional and global interest."

He also referred to Prime Minister Modi's recent remarks at the G7 Summit, where the Indian leader described trust as "the new currency of global partnerships."

"That currency of trust was visible in abundance in today's engagements, and it is this trust that allows the two sides to work with each other with a great deal of comfort," Misri said.

The presence of a large Japanese business delegation alongside Takaichi's official team was seen as an indication of both countries' intention to strengthen business-to-business partnerships and encourage greater investment and economic collaboration.

The leaders also reviewed cooperation in areas such as defence, advanced technologies and resilient supply chains, while reiterating their shared commitment to maintaining a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific.

The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the India-Japan partnership as both countries seek closer strategic and economic coordination amid evolving regional and global challenges.