Japan-India Foreign Ministers Meet in Washington D.C. to Advance Strategic Cooperation

Washington D.C., July 1, 2025

In a significant diplomatic engagement on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, IWAYA Takeshi, met with Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs, to reinforce the growing strategic partnership between the two Indo-Pacific powers.

IWAYA Takeshi and Dr. S. Jaishankar met in Washington D.C. to strengthen Japan-India strategic partnership.

Held in the U.S. capital, the bilateral meeting underscored the increasing importance of Japan-India cooperation in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including regional security, economic collaboration, infrastructure, and mobility, while aligning their efforts under the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) framework.

At the outset, Minister Iwaya expressed his heartfelt condolences for the tragic airplane accident in Gujarat, India, last month that claimed several lives.

Strengthening Indo-Pacific Cooperation

Minister Iwaya emphasized that Japan views India as a key partner in promoting the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). In his remarks, he noted that the FOIP concept has taken on heightened importance amid rising geopolitical tensions and that Japan is committed to ensuring international peace and stability through multilateral coordination—including within the Quad.

He expressed Japan’s intent to continue playing a proactive role by cooperating closely with India in areas of mutual interest and regional development.

India-Japan Special Strategic Partnership

In response, Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to deepening the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership. He highlighted that both countries share democratic values and complementary strengths that can be leveraged to address global challenges.

The ministers agreed to expand collaboration across several domains, including:

• Security and defence cooperation

• Infrastructure development and investments

• Mobility and human capital exchange

• Economic resilience and supply chain diversification

• People-to-people ties

  
  

Their discussions also touched upon the ongoing preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Japan later this year, which is expected to be a milestone in bilateral relations.

Quad Synergy and Regional Dialogue

The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to further coordinate within the Quad mechanism, leveraging the collective capabilities of Japan, Australia, India, and the United States to advance peace, connectivity, and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region.

Following the meeting, Dr. Jaishankar remarked on social media: “Pleased to meet FM Takeshi Iwaya of Japan in Washington DC this morning. Had comprehensive discussions on infrastructure, investment, and mobility.”

The productive exchange between the two ministers marks yet another step in the deepening of Japan-India relations, as both nations reaffirm their commitment to a rules-based international order, economic prosperity, and regional stability.