SYLLABUS

GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Context: Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India co-chaired the 18th India–Japan Strategic Dialogue alongside the Foreign Minister of Japan in New Delhi.

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• The dialogue focused on strengthening the "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" with significant agreements and initiatives.
• The two Ministers had a dialogue and discussed taking forward the Japanese initiative for a “Free and Open Indo Pacific” (FOIP) and cooperation on Artificial Intelligence, semiconductor technology, and innovation.

Key Highlights of 18th Strategic Dialogue

Key Discussion in Meeting:

• Bilateral Relations
• Both Ministers agreed to strengthen economic security by promoting resilient supply chains and launching the “Japan–India Private-Sector Dialogue on Economic Security” (BtoB) in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals, followed by the second Japan–India Dialogue on Economic Security at the earliest.
• They also agreed to convene the “Joint Working Group on Mineral Resources” under the Japan-India Memorandum of Cooperation on Mineral Resources.
• Under the “Japan-India AI Cooperation Initiative (JAI)”, both Ministers agreed to establish the “Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue” to promote concrete AI cooperation.
• Japan expressed support for India’s AI Impact Summit in February and plans to invite 500 highly skilled Indian AI professionals by 2030 for joint research.
• Regional Situations and Cooperation in International Fora
• Both Ministers agreed to cooperate toward a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, including through Quad cooperation (Japan-Australia-India-U.S.).
• They discussed regional situations in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, agreeing to enhance cooperation through initiatives such as the intellectual dialogue on North-Eastern India connectivity, the Japan-India Act East Forum, and establishing a policy dialogue framework on South Asia.
• The Japan-India Act East Forum was established in December 2017. It aims to provide a platform for India-Japan collaboration under the rubric of India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s “Vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.

Area of Cooperation Between India and Japan