(Central News Agency reporter Li Jinwei, New Delhi, 20th) India and Japan signed a maritime security cooperation agreement today, which will deepen cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and promote naval shipbuilding, design and joint research and development; the two sides will also cooperate to promote the transfer plan of composite communication antennas (UNICORN) mounted on ships.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with visiting Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi today. Both India and Japan look forward to further promoting their defense partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement (MoA) today to set out a framework for closer cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The Economic Times of India pointed out that the agreement signed between India and Japan will strengthen cooperation in maritime search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other fields. The two sides also agreed to strengthen the security and coordination of maritime traffic through mutual naval visits, joint exercises, personnel or expert exchanges, and logistical support including the right to use ports and maintenance facilities.
The joint statement between India and Japan stated that the two sides will promote cooperation in maritime security based on their respective strategic and operational needs.
India and Japan have agreed to cooperate in naval shipbuilding and design. In the future, they will try to combine Japan's technical expertise with India's production capabilities and explore the possibility of joint development.
The statement pointed out that the ship-mounted composite communication antenna (UNICORN) project will be the first defense equipment transfer case between the two countries and is a symbol of this cooperation. Both parties agreed to implement the project as soon as possible.
India's The Print newspaper pointed out that Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi agreed to have more in-depth discussions in areas related to manufacturing defense ships, hoping to give full play to their respective advantages, including Japan's contribution of technical expertise, and India's production capabilities under the "Make in India" framework, and to explore the possibility of joint research and development in the field of naval shipbuilding and design.
The two expressed optimism about the expansion of joint military exercises between India and Japan. The two sides agreed to continue to deepen the exercises, including integrating drones into the exercises. They also hoped to promote exchanges between the two countries' special forces and establish a joint theater command in India.
Sinhe and Shinjiro Koizumi expressed their affirmation of the joint naval exercise of India, Japan, and Indonesia held in February this year, and agreed to expand cooperation with third countries through high-level exchanges, exercises, and other measures.
During Shinjiro Koizumi's trip to India this time, in addition to meeting with Singh, he also visited the Western Naval Command in Mumbai and the naval base in Chennai.
