India and Japan signed a
logistics agreement on September 10, 2020. The agreement on ‘Reciprocal
Provision Supplies and Services’ will allow the Armed Forces of India and Japan
to coordinate closely in services and supplies. The agreement was signed by
Defence Secretary of India and Ambassador of Japan.
Significance of the agreement
·
The agreement will increase
interoperability between the Armed Forces of India and Japan.
·
It will assist both the countries in
maintaining regional security.
·
The agreement will establish the
enabling framework for closer cooperation between the Armed Forces of India and
Japan in reciprocal provision of supplies and services.
·
The agreement seeks to further the
engagements in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping
Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed
activities.
·
Agreement will also help both sides to
coordinate on medical requirements, supplies, maintenance, airlifting and
communication.
·
The agreement signed is mainly aimed at
greater maritime cooperation. It can upgrade India-Japan naval exercises as
both are expected to share maritime facilities for mutual benefit.
India-Japan Relation
India and Japan cooperate in areas including defence, science and trade. India and Japan had upgraded their relationship to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014. One of the key areas of cooperation between the two is Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR) in the Railway Sector. In October 2018, “India-Japan Digital Partnership” (I-JDP) was also launched during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Japan. This furthered the scope of cooperation in S&T/ICT, focusing more on “Digital ICT Technologies”. Earlier, In August 2018, The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force which covers trade in goods, services, movement of natural persons, investments, Intellectual Property Rights, custom procedures and other trade related issues. Further, India and Japan defence forces engages in several bilateral exercises namely, Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) , SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian. They have also participated in Malabar exercise with USA.
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