India, Japan Pledge To Boost Cooperation
NEW DELHI - India's newfound strategic partner in the region, Japan, has assured New Delhi of greater defense cooperation, a senior Defence Ministry official here said Nov. 9. Officials from the two countries discussed ways to boost their alliance during a three-day meeting in Tokyo.
Visiting Indian Defence Minister A.K. Anthony, right, is accompanied by his Japanese counterpart, Toshimi Kitazawa, as they review an honor guard at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 9. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)
India and Japan "expressed their commitment to contribute to bilateral and regional cooperation," according to the Defence Ministry's official release, issued at the end of the Tokyo meeting between visiting Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony and his Japanese counterpart, Toshimi Kitazawa.
Japan and India will boost their mutual efforts in peacekeeping and disaster relief, the release said, as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum, which fosters constructive regional dialogue.
"The two countries also recognized their mutual interest in the safety of sea lanes of communications and welcomed recent reinforcement of cooperation in the field of maritime security between the two defense authorities, as well as the inauguration of the Japan-India Maritime Security Dialogue, which was held in India last month," the release said.
Antony was accompanied to Tokyo by a delegation that included Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar; V.K. Saraswat, scientific adviser to the defense minister; and Vice Adm. D.K. Dewan, vice chief of the naval staff.
The focus on Indo-Japanese strategic ties is part of India's effort to counter China's growing influence in the area, said Mahindra Singh, a defense analyst here, but Japan's and India's overdependence on Arabian Gulf oil and the need to ensure its smooth flow is another driver.
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