NEW DELHI: Foreign and defense ministers from Japan and India agreed Tuesday to update the two countries’ 2008 joint declaration on security cooperation to reflect changes in the security environment.

The declaration serves as guidelines for diplomatic and defense cooperation between the two countries and calls for greater exchanges and maritime safety.

Japan and India aim to update the declaration this year to include cooperation in space and cyberspace.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and their Indian counterparts, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh.

The two sides confirmed continued cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and expressed opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, apparently referring to China’s assertive behavior.

They also agreed to continue joint exercises between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Indian military and expand transfers of defense equipment and technology.

The foreign and defense minister of Japan and India last met in September 2022. On Tuesday, the Japanese and Indian foreign ministers also held strategic dialogue.

JIJI Press