India and Japan to Renew Focus on Indo-Pacific During Takaichi's Visit

New Delhi, India Jul 1, 2026 ALN: India and Japan are expected to focus on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific as well as new projects on critical and emerging technologies as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives in Delhi on Wednesday evening for a short visit. This visit marks the 20th annual summit since India and Japan began to meet regularly at the highest levels and is expected to set the course for ties over the next decade, particularly against the backdrop of conflict in the Persian Gulf region.

“India is an indispensable partner in advancing the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific put forward by Prime Minister Takaichi. It is important that Japan and India jointly promote the maintenance and strengthening of a free and open inter-order based on the rule of law,” diplomatic sources indicated. The two sides are expected to announce a joint declaration on economic security cooperation, maritime security, and a Joint Statement on Cooperation in the field of AI during the visit.

During her visit, Prime Minister Takaichi will discuss the new version of Japan’s Indo-Pacific Policy, which she unveiled in May during a visit to Vietnam. The previous policy, announced by former Japanese PM Fumio Kishida during a visit to Delhi in 2023, focused on cooperation with India and Bangladesh through the Bay of Bengal. The latest version, however, is more focused on Japan’s policy in the Western Pacific, where tensions with China have been growing since last November.

Ms. Takaichi’s visit includes engagements on Thursday before she departs for Tokyo on Friday morning. Initially, she was scheduled to visit Guwahati for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi, but those plans were canceled just days before the commencement of the visit.

In recent months, Japan and India have ramped up cooperation against the backdrop of instability in the Gulf. The Indian navy refueled Kashima and Shimakaze, two ships of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Forces (JMSDF), in May in the Arabian Sea, and sources indicated that more such engagements are expected to be planned. Additionally, the two sides are expected to sign an agreement on energy resilience to avoid future situations like the oil crisis faced by many countries after the blockade in the Hormuz Straits. Discussions are focused on diversifying sources of energy and building energy reserves.

Prime Minister Takaichi will be welcomed at the Forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday morning in a special gesture for a Head of Government. The two sides are finalizing details on about ten MoUs that they hope to complete and announce after talks between Ms. Takaichi and Mr. Modi at Hyderabad House. Apart from the MoU on energy resilience, they are discussing agreements on biogas, upstream development of oil and gas, exploration of critical minerals, batteries, Artificial Intelligence, and pharmaceuticals.

Ms. Takaichi will also address a business meeting during her stay in New Delhi, where more than 100 Japanese businesspersons are expected to attend. Several MoUs will be signed during this meeting. It has been reported that the visiting Japanese leader will discuss the Green Ammonia Project in Orissa, which has received Japanese assistance. An important element of the visit will be the discussion on the Next Gen Mobility Partnership, which is part of India’s mobility-centric outreach with key economic partners.