Mumbai, August 20: Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Western Naval Command in Mumbai on Wednesday as part of his maiden official visit to India, with the engagement focusing on strengthening maritime cooperation and defence ties between the two countries.
During his visit, Koizumi held discussions with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan. The Japanese delegation was briefed on the roles, responsibilities and operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.
Upon his arrival at the Western Naval Command, Koizumi inspected a Guard of Honour. He also laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh at the Naval Dockyard, paying tribute to the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
The Japanese Defence Minister also visited INS Chennai, an indigenously built Indian Navy warship, where he received further briefings on India’s naval capabilities and maritime operations. The visit provided an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the Indian Navy’s operational preparedness and responsibilities in the maritime domain.
Japanese Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono described the discussions during Koizumi’s visit to the Western Naval Command as fruitful and said they focused on advancing maritime cooperation between India and Japan.
Koizumi’s Mumbai engagements form part of a two-day programme aimed at further deepening India-Japan defence relations. The visit comes amid growing strategic cooperation between the two countries and their shared interest in maintaining a free, open, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Following his Mumbai visit, Koizumi travelled to New Delhi for talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two ministers are expected to discuss deeper maritime security cooperation, defence equipment and technology collaboration, and new avenues for bilateral defence cooperation under the Make-in-India framework.
The discussions are also significant in the context of Japan’s revision of its Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, which could provide opportunities for closer cooperation in defence manufacturing and technology between India and Japan.
India and Japan have steadily expanded their security partnership in recent years, particularly in the maritime domain. Both countries share concerns over regional stability and have been working to strengthen cooperation aimed at promoting peace and security across the Indo-Pacific.
Koizumi’s visit to the Western Naval Command and INS Chennai therefore represents an important step in expanding practical maritime engagement between the two countries and further strengthening the India-Japan strategic defence partnership.
