In the current complex geopolitical situation, the vector of India’s foreign policy is increasingly shifting to the East.

Despite the difficulties that have arisen in relations with the United States, New Delhi, in the current situation, is strengthening ties with its long-standing strategic partner, Tokyo, and is taking a course toward resolving bilateral problems and rapprochement with Beijing.

Course for a “special strategic and global partnership”

A convincing confirmation of this foreign policy course was the impressive results of the eighth visit to this country by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 15th bilateral summit held on August 29-30 this year. The talks with the head of the Japanese government S. Ishiba and the numerous (13) documents signed as a result, covering a wide range of areas of successful bilateral cooperation, confirmed the course of the “special strategic and global partnership” of the two rapidly developing Asian powers, which was also recorded in the new declaration.

The visit included another Indian-Japanese economic forum, which set new tasks in expanding trade, economic, investment and innovation ties.

Taking into account the low volume of trade turnover (around $23 billion, with imports to India amounting to $18 billion and exports to Japan amounting to about $5 billion), the parties agreed to expand the range of goods supplied and significantly increase mutual trade. At the same time, in the context of the adopted common vision of the prospects for bilateral relations and the new structure of economic security, including in the Indo-Pacific region, they agreed to expand cooperation in such areas as nuclear energy, space, science and technology, including semiconductors, essential minerals, artificial intelligence, modern technologies, as well as the environment, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Particular attention was paid to the further inflow of Japanese investment into the Indian economy. It was noted with satisfaction that since 2005, the volume of Japanese investment has amounted to more than $43 billion, including about $4 billion in 2024 alone. Thus, Japan has become the fifth-largest investor in India, and about 1,400 Japanese companies are successfully operating in this country.

Trade and cooperation between the two countries will expand in the next decade

The agreement stipulates that Japan will agree to invest $68 billion in India, as well as a plan to increase the mutual exchange of personnel between the two countries to 500,000 people over five years, including 50,000 “skilled professionals and potential talents from India to Japan.”

Along with the successful development of bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, culture and tourism, the growth of defense cooperation in accordance with existing agreements and the joint declaration was noted, and the importance of the two countries’ participation, together with the United States and Australia, in the dialogue quartet on security issues in the Indo-Pacific region was emphasized.

In short, these and other agreements between the leaders of India and Japan confirmed that Tokyo remains one of New Delhi’s key strategic partners and the Modi government is confidently moving towards further expansion of these mutually beneficial ties.

Anvar Azimov, diplomat and political scientist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, PhD in History, Senior Researcher at the Eurasian Educational Institute of MGIMO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/09/02/indian-prime-minister-modi-strengthens-ties-with-japan/