Canberra: Cooperation between Japan and India is becoming increasingly important in advancing the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), with both countries combining their strengths to enhance regional stability, economic security and supply chain resilience, according to a report published by the Australia-based East Asia Forum.
The report says the partnership benefits from the complementary strengths of the two nations. While India offers a vast industrial base and its strategic position as a resident maritime power in the Indian Ocean, Japan contributes advanced technology, financial resources and strong institutional capabilities.
It notes that India has become a key hub for supply chain diversification, while Japan’s investment and technological expertise are helping build more resilient regional economic networks. Together, the two countries connect the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, strengthening the broader Indo-Pacific architecture.
According to the report, Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative is evolving beyond a strategic concept into a framework aimed at providing regional public goods and addressing growing geopolitical competition, supply chain disruptions and regional uncertainty.
The Japan-India partnership now extends beyond traditional infrastructure and development projects to include cooperation in maritime security, economic security, defence manufacturing, semiconductors and critical minerals.
The report also highlights the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to India, saying it is expected to accelerate collaboration in economic security and regional resilience.
It adds that increasing geopolitical tensions, particularly the technological rivalry between the United States and China, along with disruptions to global supply chains and rising maritime and energy security challenges, have made regional resilience more important than ever. In this context, Japan and India’s cooperation is seen as a significant contributor to strengthening the Indo-Pacific order.
The report further notes that discussions during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi in May 2026 reflected the evolving focus of Japan’s FOIP strategy. The meeting emphasised maritime security, economic security, energy cooperation and critical minerals as key areas of collaboration.
While describing the partnership as strong, the report recommends deeper institutional cooperation in economic security, particularly in supply chain resilience, semiconductor manufacturing, industrial policy coordination and other critical technologies. It also calls for stronger collaboration through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and Association of Southeast Asian Nations-linked frameworks to further reinforce regional resilience.
With inputs from IANS