India, Japan defense chiefs meet in New Delhi to deepen security ties

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit, beginning with a ceremonial guard of honor before formal talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh.

The meeting, held at the Indian defense ministry, was centered on strengthening bilateral defense and maritime security cooperation, according to India's Defence Ministry. The two ministers were seen shaking hands and walking together toward the meeting venue, accompanied by senior Indian military officials including Chief of Defense Staff General NS Raja Subramani and the chiefs of the army, navy, and air force.

Koizumi's itinerary included a visit to the Western Naval Command in Mumbai on Wednesday, a day before the Delhi talks. The visit underscores the growing defense engagement between the two nations.

India and Japan are both members of the Quad, a strategic grouping that also includes the United States and Australia. The alliance focuses on regional security, maritime issues, and defense cooperation, largely in response to China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The latest round of talks follows a series of agreements announced in July between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which aimed to deepen cooperation in defense, economic, and maritime security sectors. Thursday's meeting is seen as a continuation of that momentum, with both sides expected to explore further avenues for joint exercises and strategic alignment.