India and Japan widened their strategic partnership on Thursday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced new agreements covering artificial intelligence, defense, energy security and supply chains during talks in New Delhi.
The agreements were announced during Takaichi’s three-day visit to India, with both governments framing the talks as a push to deepen economic and security cooperation at a time of rising uncertainty across the Indo-Pacific.
AI push comes with supply chain roadmap
Modi said technology would become one of the strongest pillars of India-Japan cooperation, pointing to a new joint statement on artificial intelligence and agreements between Indian AI institutions and Japanese partners.
“The convergence of Japan’s precision technology and India’s software capabilities will give a new momentum and strength to global AI development,” Modi said in remarks published by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The two sides also adopted a joint roadmap on economic security, with a focus on building more resilient supply chains in semiconductors, quantum technologies and advanced materials. The move comes as major economies seek to reduce exposure to supply disruptions in critical sectors.
Defense cooperation moves beyond talks
Defense cooperation also moved forward, with Modi saying India and Japan had agreed on their first co-development project in the sector. The project covers a naval radio antenna system, which Modi said would open “a new chapter” in defense technology ties.
The defense agreement adds weight to a relationship already shaped by the Quad, the grouping that includes India, Japan, the United States and Australia and is widely viewed as part of a broader effort to balance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Energy deals widen New Delhi-Tokyo cooperation
The two governments also widened their energy agenda, with Modi saying the new initiatives cover biogas, energy resilience, batteries, green hydrogen and nuclear energy, including a biogas plan aimed at supporting 1,000 plants in India.
The latest agreements underline how India and Japan are trying to convert growing business ties into a deeper strategic relationship, as both countries look to secure critical supply chains, reduce exposure to regional disruptions and strengthen cooperation in sectors that are becoming central to economic and national security.
