India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meet: Alliance embraces free, open Indo-Pacific vision, says EAM S Jaishankar

In his opening remarks at the third India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meeting on August 20, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that India's deepening engagement with the East is a natural extension of its Act East policy, reflecting a growing focus on the region. He noted, "The proportion of our activities and interests East of India has been steadily increasing."

Jaishankar highlighted that the strengthening partnership between India and Japan is anchored in a broader vision of a "free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific." Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to this vision, discussing ways to coordinate security and development assistance where their interests converge. Jaishankar added, "We explored new avenues for technology, research, and industrial cooperation, underscoring the need for collaboration in human resources, particularly in semiconductors. This is essential for our economic and technology security and for global economic resilience."

Jaishankar also called for addressing regulatory barriers to technology sharing and collaboration, particularly in defence. He requested Japanese counterparts to resolve these bottlenecks to enhance trust-based cooperation in emerging technologies.

Both India and Japan reaffirmed their strong stance against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. The discussions included strengthening capacity-building efforts to address cyber challenges and misuse of digital technologies, with a focus on deepening information-sharing and protecting critical infrastructure.