India & Japan to hold their first 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on Aug 20

New Delhi: India and Japan are set to hold a critical 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi next week on Aug 20. It will be the first such high-level meeting between the two nations since September 2022.

The dialogue is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in defence and security, as the two nations seek to strengthen their strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

The 2 + 2 Summit involves the foreign and defence ministers from both countries.

Yōko Kamikawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Minoru Kihara, Minister of Defence of Japan are expected to be in New Delhi to attend the meeting. They will meet their Indian counterparts: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

According to a report in Nikkei Asia, a significant highlight of this dialogue will likely be the announcement of a new defence deal in which Japan will supply advanced naval ship antennas to India. These antennas, developed by Japanese companies including NEC, are currently deployed on Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force’s cutting-edge escort vessels.

Known for their capability to detect missile and drone movements rapidly, these antennas are expected to enhance India’s maritime defence capabilities.

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