THE 16th India–Japan Annual Summit marks a fresh step towards strengthening bilateral relations across a wide range of strategic sectors. As Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Ms. Sanae Takaichi reviewed and boosted the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, the Indo-Japan partnership has made a decisive statement in the ever-intensifying geopolitical competition. By making a decisive shift from traditional economic partnership to bolster engagement in energy supply chains, both the countries have sent a message to China and the United States that the second-tier countries are ready with their own strategies in case further disruption is caused in critical resources due to their hegemonic stand. The annual summit has seen a bold stand by leaders from both India and Japan. Mr. Modi has already nurtured healthy relations with Japan over the years and Ms. Takaichi’s first visit to India confirms that Tokyo has specially marked New Delhi as the go-to partner for the future.

 

Their faith in each other was given a black-and-white expression with a defence pact and Japan’s additional investment in India to support the ‘Make In India’ concept of PM Mr. Modi. The two countries have shown their intent of positioning themselves as trusted partners committed to a rules-based international order. The annual summit has come against the backdrop of the geopolitical upheaval caused by United States President Mr. Donald Trump. First with its back-breaking tariffs and later with the illogical war with Iran, the US has tested the patience of its close allies. Most of these traditional partners have chosen alternatives to bypass the US bullying. Japan is one among the victims of Mr. Trump’s intimidation as it faced extremely heavy tariffs and later was forced to join the war against Iran.

 

On both fronts, Japan took cudgels against the maverick US President and silently altered its strategies for a secured future. Japan regards India as a key partner in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific. As the US covertly changed the name of its Indo-Pacific Command to only Pacific Command, Japan realised that it would have to look at India as the strategic security partner to counter China’s increasingly assertive military and economic influence in the region. The Sino-Japan relations have touched a new low in the recent months adding to Japan’s worries in the Indo-Pacific. India has remained the strongest counter-balance against China in this maritime region and Japan did not waste time in forging a strong security partnership in the Indo-Pacific. The strengthening of strategic relations has come at the right time for both India and Japan. The West Asia crisis has shown the vulnerability of South-East Asian nations in the energy sector as both India and Japan struggled to fulfill their fuel and gas needs due to disruption in energy imports from the Strait of Hormuz. It highlighted the perils of overdependence on concentrated supply chains. By making energy and economic security as new pillars of the partnership, New Delhi and Tokyo have taken a timely step to insulate themselves from further such disruptions.

 

Joint Declaration on Economic Security has a clear roadmap for collaboration in semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence and critical minerals. It is of great significance for India in realising its dream of becoming the next semiconductor and chip hub for the world. The pact takes care of the problem caused by China’s restrictions on critical minerals as India has added one more source for rare earth material supply. For Japan, the summit gives a fresh impetus to its fight against China’s continued use of economic leverage. Beijing has imposed control measures on Japan-bound goods which has affected its supply chains. Amid growing tensions with China, the Takaichi administration has tapped India’s increasingly attractive and large market, an expanding manufacturing base, and a deep pool of tech workers. It is a win-win situation for both.