India and Japan sign sweeping defense and technology agreements at the Modi-Takaichi summit

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi on Friday, signing a series of landmark agreements centered on economic security, artificial intelligence, and energy resilience. The three-day summit, marking Takaichi's first official visit to India, formalized a deepening bilateral partnership with an explicit focus on supply chain stability and regional architecture.

The most notable outcome of the discussions was the formalization of the first India-Japan defense co-development project. The two nations will jointly develop the UNICORN naval radio antenna, a step explicitly aimed at strengthening maritime security and maintaining a rules-based order in the region. Modi formally welcomed Japan's updated "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" vision during the proceedings, drawing immediate attention from Beijing, which issued warnings regarding the bilateral discussions as the summit concluded.

Beyond defense, the summit yielded significant economic commitments. The two leaders adopted joint declarations outlining cooperation in critical sectors including semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, and pharmaceuticals. To support these state-level initiatives, Japanese and Indian companies signed 129 separate cooperation agreements valued at approximately 2 trillion yen, or $13.3 billion.

The bilateral discussions also addressed long-term trade infrastructure. Officials announced a review of the 15-year-old India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to modernize the trade relationship. Additionally, the leaders set a new target for Japanese private investment in India, aiming for 10 trillion yen over the next decade.

The scope of the agreements indicates a structural shift in the India-Japan partnership. By anchoring their cooperation in both advanced technology and joint defense production, the two nations are positioning their alliance as a foundational element of the broader Indo-Pacific security and economic framework.