Portrait of Fumio Kishida
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Fumio Kishida on Narendra Modi

Key strategic partner (strong)

TL;DR

Fumio Kishida views India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a key strategic partner to advance shared visions in the Indo-Pacific.

Key Points

  • He highly appreciated Modi's selection of Japan as the first country to visit upon becoming Prime Minister in September 2014.

  • Kishida urged Modi to take a tougher stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine during their March 2022 meeting.

  • Japan pledged five trillion yen in public and private investment in India over the five years following their March 2022 meeting.

Summary

Fumio Kishida views Narendra Modi as a crucial leader in advancing the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership, which he noted was in its tenth year as of 2024. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with India across various domains, including defense, security, and business-to-business relations. The Japanese Prime Minister thanked his Indian counterpart for dedication and leadership in achieving advances in the bilateral relationship over the preceding years, often meeting on the sidelines of multilateral forums like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

His stance is characterized by a desire to align with India to secure a "free and open Indo-Pacific," a vision shared by both nations. During a meeting in March 2022, while Kishida pressed Modi to take a tougher line against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the underlying focus remained on reinforcing the Quad's collective commitment to regional stability. The relationship is underscored by significant investment pledges, with Japan committing substantial public and private investment in India over a five-year period to bolster this strategic alignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fumio Kishida considers Narendra Modi a critical leader with whom he shares a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. He expresses satisfaction with the progress made in the relationship under Modi's tenure. Kishida views their collaboration as central to achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two Prime Ministers met in September 2024 on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders' Summit in Wilmington, Delaware. Before that, they had an Annual Summit in March 2022 in New Delhi. Kishida welcomed Modi's visit to Japan in 2014 when Kishida was Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Yes, during their March 2022 meeting, Kishida urged Modi to adopt a tougher line regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, the resulting joint statement focused on a call for dialogue and diplomacy without directly condemning Moscow's actions. They also discussed the situation in Myanmar and North Korea's missile launches.