Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a two-day official visit to Japan today at the invitation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, with a packed agenda covering trade, security, and regional cooperation. The visit marks the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit and is expected to chart the next phase of their strategic partnership.
According to India’s Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, the trip will witness the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across critical sectors, strengthening India’s infrastructure and technology initiatives. “This visit will cover the entire spectrum of our relationship, giving new momentum for the next 10 years. Very important outcome documents will also be released,” George told ANI.
One of the central themes of the visit will be discussions on the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which includes India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. George noted that the QUAD has steadily evolved since 2004 into a concrete platform for ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. With India set to host the next QUAD leaders’ summit later this year, the Tokyo talks are expected to align strategies amid recent strains in India-U.S. trade relations.
Diplomatic sources highlight that Modi and Ishiba will also assess the geopolitical and geo-economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific, with maritime security, technology exchange, and resilient supply chains high on the agenda. The summit is likely to reinforce the India-Japan partnership as a cornerstone of regional balance in the face of shifting global power dynamics.
Ambassador George recalled that India and Japan have nurtured a special strategic and global partnership since 2014, initiated by Prime Minister Modi and the late Shinzo Abe. “Over the past decade, both nations have made significant progress across political, economic, and people-to-people exchanges. This visit will help us create a roadmap for the next 10 years,” he said.
The two leaders have previously met at international forums, including the Laos Summit and the G7 Summit in Canada, but this is their first bilateral meeting since Ishiba assumed office. With long-standing cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, officials suggest the Tokyo summit will both review achievements and set fresh goals.
As PM Modi engages in high-level talks, analysts say the visit comes at a critical juncture, when both India and Japan are recalibrating their global roles. Strengthened by shared democratic values and strategic interests, the partnership is expected to deepen across defense, trade, and cultural fronts.