In Photos: India, Japan sign maritime security pact to deepen defence cooperation

India and Japan agreed to enhance operational maritime security cooperation and protect vital Sea Lines of Communication across the Indo-Pacific following high-level bilateral talks on Thursday

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation during their meeting in New Delhi

The pact establishes a comprehensive framework to strengthen ties between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Key areas of focus include Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

A joint statement released after their bilateral meeting stated that both ministers emphasised the importance of sharing assessments of the regional and international security environment, especially amid heightened global tensions

They also strongly opposed any unilateral actions that threaten the freedom and safety of navigation and overflight, and any attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion, without explicitly naming any country

The two ministers affirmed that they would strengthen coordination between the two sides to protect Sea Lines of Communication through mutual visits by naval ships and units, joint exercises, personnel and subject matter expert exchanges, and logistical support, including the use of ports and maintenance and repair facilities

They also concurred on moving swiftly to realise concrete maritime security cooperation that serves the strategic and operational needs