India-Japan Talks Focus on Indo-Pacific and Economy

In a pre-Quad diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to New Delhi on Monday. The meeting served as a strategic prelude to the Quad foreign ministers' gathering scheduled for the next day. Jaishankar opened the discussions by underlining the deep strategic and global partnership shared by India and Japan. He noted that this relationship extends beyond bilateral ties, influencing broader efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, which will be a key topic at the Quad forum. Economic security emerged as a central theme, with Jaishankar stressing its relevance in the current global climate. Both nations, being major trading powers and energy importers, share concerns over developments in West Asia and their potential impact on maritime and commercial interests. Motegi highlighted the unprecedented structural shifts occurring in the international system, driven by changing power dynamics and escalating tensions. He outlined Japan's recent initiatives to enhance regional resilience across economic, societal, and security domains. The Japanese minister expressed optimism about collaborating with India to tailor cooperation according to individual country needs, aiming for a more flexible and prosperous Indo-Pacific. He also recalled the first Quad foreign ministers meeting in September 2019 and noted this would be his fourth participation, including virtual formats.