Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will meet with his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, in New Delhi on Monday to discuss regional and global security concerns and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, as per a government statement issued on Sunday. The two nations share a long-standing friendship that has grown significantly since the elevation of their partnership to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. Defence and security are key aspects of this collaboration.

The talks are expected to focus on the current geopolitical situation in the Indian subcontinent, particularly after the Pahalgam attack, and ways to strengthen India-Japan defence industrial cooperation. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had previously expressed strong support for India following the attack. This meeting marks the second between the defence ministers, with the first taking place during the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting in Laos. One key topic will be the reciprocal supply and services agreement, which would allow both nations to use each other's military bases for supply and repair services.

The ministers will also review the situation in the East and South China Seas, where China’s military presence continues to grow.