The statement said the foreign and defense ministers of the two nations had decided to update a 2008 declaration on security cooperation, which is expected to be signed when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan, possibly by the end of the year.
The ministers also agreed to accelerate discussions on a plan for Japan to export naval communication antennas, known as Unicorn, to India, which would be the first such defense equipment and technology transfer under a 2015 agreement between the two countries.
The talks, which involved Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, as well as their Indian counterparts Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh, come as the two nations have been deepening their security cooperation amid China's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The joint statement also emphasized the need for the "peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force" and called on all countries to refrain from any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. The ministers further agreed to enhance their commitment to the Quad, a group of four major Indo-Pacific democracies that also includes the United States and Australia, and to continue holding exercises among their defense forces as well as with other Quad members.
