“India-Japan Chip ‘n’ AI Fiesta: Crafting an Epic Indo-Pacific Adventure”, India Narrative, January 23, 2026
“The 18th Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, convened on January 16, 2026, in New Delhi, exemplifies the maturing “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” between two Indo-Pacific heavyweights navigating geopolitical flux. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar engaged in over two hours of substantive discussions, reaffirming the Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade unveiled during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 2025 visit to Japan. This timely parley coincides with the 10th anniversary of Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, positioning India as its indispensable ally, while laying groundwork for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 through amplified people-to-people exchanges—highlighted by the symbolic exchange of cricket team uniforms and a signed bat.
Key Agreements
The ministers zeroed in on translating rhetoric into action, particularly in economic security to fortify supply chains against disruptions. They greenlit the “Japan-India Private-Sector Dialogue on Economic Security” (BtoB) for launch in the first quarter of 2026, zeroing in on five priority domains: semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology (ICT), clean energy, and pharmaceuticals. This private-sector push follows high-level government-to-government (GtoG) engagements, including the forthcoming second Japan-India Dialogue on Economic Security at the vice-ministerial level and the convening of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Mineral Resources under an existing Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC). These steps aim to derisk global dependencies, ensuring stable flows of rare earths for batteries and chips essential to both economies.
In artificial intelligence, the Japan-India AI Cooperation Initiative (JAI) received fresh impetus with the establishment of a dedicated “Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue” to hammer out tangible collaborations. Japan committed to hosting 500 highly skilled Indian AI professionals by 2030 for joint research endeavors, alongside extending full support to India’s AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026. Regionally, the duo recommitted to Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) mechanisms—encompassing Japan, India, Australia, and the United States—to uphold FOIP principles, while pledging closer coordination on North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. They also resolved to invigorate the Japan-India Act East Forum for enhanced connectivity in India’s Northeast, institute a novel policy dialogue framework on South Asia, and align on global governance reforms at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and United Nations Security Council (UNSC)…….”
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