India, Japan to Hold 2+2 Talks in Tokyo
Defence and foreign ministers from both countries will meet in Tokyo on November 18-19, the first such 2+2 meeting in over two years.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Military
Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi and foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi will hold 2+2 ministerial meetings with Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar in Tokyo. The talks follow recent discussions between Motegi and Jaishankar in the United States.
Why it matters
Both Japan and India are heavily dependent on oil imports, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has affected their economies. China's military buildup has also drawn concern from neighbours including Japan, South Korea and The Philippines.
India has held three 2+2 meetings with Japan, in 2019, 2022 and 2024, and the upcoming Tokyo round would be the first in over two years. China's official military budget is about USD 280 billion this year, but the specific outcomes of the planned talks remain unconfirmed.
The players
Shinjiro Koizumi
Japan's defence minister, who will take part in the Tokyo talks with his Indian counterpart.
Toshimitsu Motegi
Japan's foreign minister, who recently held discussions with S. Jaishankar in the United States ahead of the Tokyo meetings.
Rajnath Singh
India's defence minister, who will meet Japanese counterparts in Tokyo.
S. Jaishankar
India's foreign minister, who recently held talks with Toshimitsu Motegi in the United States and will attend the Tokyo meetings.
The details
Japan and India are expected to discuss closer defence ties, with projections including a Japanese seaplane that the Indian Navy could lease and possible talks on features of the Japanese Mogami-class frigates. Japan has also eased its defence export rules considerably, and India maintains 2+2 ties with several countries including its Quad partners, Great Britain and Russia.
Timeline
August 2024: The last India-Japan 2+2 meeting was held.
November 18-19: Ministerial meetings are expected in Tokyo.
Military Context
The planned Tokyo round would extend the India-Japan 2+2 format, which has met in 2019, 2022 and 2024, after a gap of more than two years. The talks come as Japan has eased its defence export rules and China's official military budget stands at about USD 280 billion.
Readers following Indo-Pacific security should watch for official readouts from the Tokyo meetings to see whether defence cooperation agreements are announced. Shifts in defence export and equipment arrangements may affect regional procurement and oil-dependent shipping routes.
The takeaway
The Tokyo meetings will show whether India and Japan convert shared concerns over oil supply and China's military growth into concrete defence cooperation. Readers should watch the official readouts for specific commitments.
What happens next
India and Japan's 2+2 ministerial meetings are scheduled for November 18-19 in Tokyo.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by ET NOW.
