Maritime Boost For India-Japan Relations: Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi Embarks on 4-Day Trip
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has proceeded on a 4-day official visit to Japan as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate bilateral defence relations. (Image Courtesy: RNA)
From culture to diversity, India and Japan have a lot in common and ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations. Both the Asian nations also have a cooperation in the security field too, which continue to work on.
In an effort to further consolidate their bilateral defence relations, India’s Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Tuesday (July 29) embarked on a 4-day official visit to Japan. He will be there from July 30 to August 2, as India and Japan aim at deepening ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.
What is the purpose of Adm Tripathi’s Japan visit?
Along with working on deepening the India-Japan naval ties, the Chief of the Naval Staff will engage in bilateral discussions with senior Japanese government officials including Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Vice-Minister of Defense Masuda Kazuo. Additionally, he will also meet Admiral Saito Akira, Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The talks between India and Japanese leaders will likely cover a broad spectrum of defence cooperation areas, Indian Navy said in a statement. Moreover, the engagements will have a strategic focus on maritime security, technological collaboration, and identifying new avenues to strengthen naval synergy and interoperability.
“The CNS will also visit JMSDF units and interact with the Commander-in-Chief, Self Defense Fleet, at Funakoshi JMSDF Base,” the statement added.
How will CNS Tripathi’s Japan visit further deepen maritime ties?
While India and Japan have already strong defence cooperation, Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi’s 4-day official trip could provide a deeper boost to the bonds of friendship and defence cooperation between the two countries, thereby, paving the way for enhanced mutual understanding.
The visit reaffirms the time-tested India-Japan friendship anchored in mutual respect, maritime trust, and a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
How bullet train project is speeding up India-Japan ties?
Around 8 years ago when Japan announced that it will fund more than four-fifths of the India’s ambitious bullet train project’s $19bn cost at a 0.1% interest-rate, Japan showed that it is a true friend of India, something Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had iterated then.
With this, Japan has positioned itself as India’s most important strategic partner. Earlier this year, the Asian nation said it will provide two sets of its celebrated Shinkansen trains at no cost to India. According to the Japan Times, the move is aimed at helping test and inspect the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor.
