Rajnath Singh holds bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani, thanks him for efforts to deepen defence cooperation

May 05, 2025

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani in the national capital and thanked the Japanese government for expressing solidarity with India over the recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

Defence Minister praised Nakatani for his efforts to deepen defence cooperation between the between the the two countries.

In his remarks at the start of the India-Japan Defence Ministerial Meeting, Rajnath Singh recalled his earlier meeting with Nakatani and expressed confidence that the cooperation between the two countries will reach greater heights.

Singh said, "Let me begin by extending welcome to you and your delegation to India. I recall our meeting at Vientiane, Laos in November last year, where we decided to expand the defence cooperation between industry, technology and interoperability between the armed forces. At the outset, I would like to thank the government of Japan for their strong expression of solidarity with India in the wake of Pahalgam attack."

"I take this opportunity to complement you for your immense contribution in deepening the Indo-Japan defence cooperation. You had earlier foundation for strong bilateral defence partnership by concluding defense equipment and technical Cooperation Agreement and Protection of ...Military Information Agreement. As you have taken over the charge of defence again I am confident our cooperation will attain greater heights," he said.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders within six months after their maiden interaction on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Laos in November 2024.