India and Japan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic and security ties, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, in Tokyo. The high-level talks came at a critical time when New Delhi faces new U.S. tariffs and Tokyo seeks to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the importance of closer collaboration, saying, “Japan and India should draw on each other’s strengths, help solve each other’s challenges, and even tackle together the issues that future generations will face.”
$68 Billion Private-Sector Investment in India
One of the major highlights of the visit was Japan’s announcement of a target to mobilize 10 trillion yen ($67.9 billion) in private-sector investment in India. This investment is expected to significantly boost India’s manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology sectors, giving further momentum to Modi’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Both sides stressed the need to enhance supply chain resilience, increase investment opportunities, and expand cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), space technology, high-speed rail, and green energy.
Defence and Security Cooperation in Indo-Pacific
The two leaders pledged to deepen defence collaboration over the next decade, particularly in maritime security and cyber defence, given their shared concerns about regional security challenges. India and Japan reaffirmed their joint commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, underscoring their strategic alignment with other Quad members—the United States and Australia.
Prime Minister Modi noted, “India and Japan are fully committed to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. We have similar concerns about terrorism and cyber security. We have common interests in defence and maritime security.”
Strengthening State-Prefecture Partnerships
In addition to bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi met with governors of 16 Japanese prefectures on Saturday (August 30, 2025). Discussions revolved around strengthening state-prefecture level cooperation in technology, start-ups, skills development, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and cultural exchange.
Modi underlined that India-Japan ties are rooted in civilizational linkages and now require renewed engagement beyond traditional focus areas like Tokyo and Delhi. He stressed that combining Japanese technological expertise with Indian talent and innovation could generate immense opportunities across multiple sectors, including trade, tourism, and youth exchange.
A Broader Diplomatic Push
The Tokyo visit comes amid heightened trade tensions between India and the United States. On August 27, Washington raised tariffs on Indian goods to as high as 50%, with an additional 25% levy imposed on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Following his Japan visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to China for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. There, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking his first visit to China in seven years.
The India-Japan partnership is entering a new era of strategic depth. With both nations reinforcing their defence and economic ties, the relationship is set to play a defining role in shaping the Indo-Pacific’s future. By extending cooperation to state-prefecture levels and embracing new technologies, India and Japan are laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient partnership in the decades to come.
Helene Elliott is the senior reporter for News Raise. She covers Science news. She also has a keen interest in photojournalism. Helene holds a nomination for the prestigious Red Smith Award. She is married to author Dennis D’Agostino, a former publicist with the New York Mets.
