India and Japan have expressed their determination to further increase defense cooperation and said that the forces of both countries will conduct joint exercises.
According to the Reuters news agency, on Thursday, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada in Tokyo.
The two ministers will also hold talks along with their foreign secretaries.
According to the statement, "Both ministers agreed that the early conduct of the initial combat exercises will pave the way for further cooperation and mutual cooperation between the air forces of the two countries."
India, like Japan, is increasing its military strength to deal with growing security threats, including from neighboring China.
In Japan, Prime Minister Fuomo Kushida has promised a clear increase in defense spending.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party wants to raise Japan's military budget to 2 percent of gross domestic product over the next five years.
India launched its first indigenously built aircraft carrier last week.
Given China's growing military might in the region, Delhi is expanding its security ties with Tokyo.
The two countries, along with Australia and the United States, are members of the Quad Group of Nations and conduct annual naval exercises across the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate mutual defense cooperation.
After the Quad Summit in May this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Kushida agreed in a meeting that the two countries will work together to keep the 'Indo-Pacific open and free'.
