23-09-2021 | 17:28 PM
India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue
• India and Japan recently held their sixth Maritime Affairs Dialogue in a virtual format.
• The dialogue involved exchanges on developments in the areas of regional cooperation activities, maritime security environment as well as the opportunities for cooperation between both the countries in the Indo- Pacific region.
India-Japan Cooperation
• Both the countries are having convergent interests in maritime security. They depend on sea-borne trade in order to sustain their economies. Thus, it becomes essential to work together for the security of trade in light of the South-China Sea
• India and Japan had upgraded their relationship to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014.
• Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR) is an important area of cooperation in Railway sector between both the countries.
• In 2018, India-Japan Digital Partnership was launched to deepen the existing areas of cooperation and initiatives within the scope of cooperation in science & technology.
• India and Japan are the member nations of G-4 grouping.
Background of India-Japan Maritime Dialogue
• First round of India-Japan Maritime dialogue was held in 2013 in New Delhi.
• During the first round of dialogue, both the countries signed the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement. This agreement allows access to military bases of each other. Through this agreement, India has access to the Japan base in Djibouti and the Japanese Navy has access to the Indian Naval base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
NOTE: India and Japan also held a bilateral Maritime Exercise called JIMEX, which stands for Japan- India Maritime Exercise. It is held annually.
