India and Japan sign maritime security pact at Defence Ministers' Meeting
Rajnath Singh and Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met in New Delhi on 20 August 2026 and signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation.
Summary
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held the Japan-India Defence Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on 20 August 2026. The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation between the two defence ministries, covering cooperation between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy, information sharing in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). They agreed to work on mine countermeasures, explore joint development in naval shipbuilding and design, and conclude a ship repair arrangement soon. The ministers also welcomed progress on the air force exercise 'Veer Guardian 26', under which Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircraft will visit India for the first time.
Key facts
- Date and venue
- 20 August 2026, New Delhi
- Ministers
- Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi
- Pact
- Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation
- Areas
- MDA information sharing, SAR, HADR
- Air exercise
- Veer Guardian 26: JASDF fighters to visit India for the first time
- Other exercises
- Dharma Guardian (Army), JAIMEX (Maritime)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which Japanese Defence Minister held the Japan-India Defence Ministers' Meeting with Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on 20 August 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Shinjiro Koizumi
Japan's Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi met Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on 20 August 2026.
The India-Japan Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation signed on 20 August 2026 specifically covers which areas?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — MDA information sharing, Search and Rescue, and HADR
The Memorandum covers cooperation between the JMSDF and the Indian Navy, including MDA information sharing and cooperation in SAR and HADR.
Under which Japan-India air force exercise, scheduled for 2026, will Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter aircraft visit India for the first time?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Veer Guardian 26
Under 'Veer Guardian 26', JASDF fighter aircraft will, for the first time, visit India and take part in the exercise.
Consider the following statements about the India-Japan defence engagement of 20 August 2026: 1. The Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation was signed directly between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy. 2. 'Dharma Guardian' is the Japan-India Army exercise. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only statement 2 is correct. The Memorandum was signed between the Ministry of Defense of Japan and the Ministry of Defence of India; it provides for JMSDF-Indian Navy cooperation. Dharma Guardian is the Army exercise and JAIMEX the maritime exercise.