NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday reiterated that stronger India–Japan relations are essential for global peace, stability, and prosperity. During a phone conversation, the two leaders pledged to deepen cooperation in economic security, defence, and talent mobility, underscoring their shared vision for a resilient Indo-Pacific partnership.
“Had a warm conversation with Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan. Congratulated her on assuming office and discussed our shared vision for advancing the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with focus on economic security, defence cooperation and talent mobility. We agreed that stronger India–Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity,” Modi said on X.
The exchange indicated the priority areas of the ties between the two leaders. Takaichi, a conservative from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, became the country’s first woman Prime Minister earlier this month. Modi had earlier extended his “heartiest congratulations” to Takaichi on October 21, expressing hope for closer collaboration to “strengthen the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”
Responding to Modi’s message, Takaichi said she looked forward to working with the Indian Prime Minister to “further promote the Japan–India Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” Takaichi, a close ally of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, under whose watch India-Japan ties scaled new heights, signalled a strong focus on security and regional diplomacy. In her first policy address to Japan’s Parliament, she pledged to raise defence spending to 2 percent of GDP by March—two years ahead of the current target—amid growing regional tensions.
She also said that Japan’s alliance with the United States remains the “cornerstone” of its foreign and security policy, while committing to deepen ties with Indo-Pacific partners including India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia to advance a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” While adopting a firmer stance toward China’s military assertiveness, Takaichi emphasised that Beijing remains “an important neighbour” with which Japan seeks “constructive and stable” relations.