Archive · 20 Aug 2026
India Urges Japan to Limit Advanced Defence Technology Transfers
India asked Japan to be careful about sharing advanced military technology with Pakistan.
India is worried that some of this technology could later reach North Korea.
India pointed to past claims that Pakistan shared nuclear-related knowledge with North Korea.
The request was made during a meeting between the Indian and Japanese defence ministers.
Japan’s defence minister was visiting India for the first time.
The two countries also agreed to study ways to work together on building and designing naval ships.
They discussed working with other countries to improve maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
They also planned more cooperation to deliver people and supplies during natural disasters.
India asked Japan not to transfer advanced defence technology or technical know-how to Pakistan.
India warned that such capabilities could potentially reach North Korea through Pakistan’s historical proliferation links.
Defence ministers Rajnath Singh and Shinjiro Koizumi met in New Delhi during Koizumi’s first visit to India.
India and Japan agreed to explore joint naval shipbuilding and design using Japan’s technology and India’s production capabilities.
The countries also discussed Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation and disaster-response coordination through the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network.
- Who
- Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, with India and Japan as the participating governments.
- What
- India urged Japan to restrict advanced defence-technology transfers to Pakistan, while both countries expanded discussions on naval and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
- When
- The meeting took place on Thursday during Shinjiro Koizumi’s maiden visit to India; a second Indo-Pacific Logistics Network tabletop exercise is scheduled for September.
- Where
- The defence talks were held in New Delhi, following Koizumi’s visit to the Western Naval Command in Mumbai.
- Why
- India cited concerns that technology transferred to Pakistan could ultimately reach North Korea, referring to Pakistan’s reported past nuclear-proliferation links with North Korea.
- Indian request
- India asked Japan to refrain from transferring advanced defence technology or technical know-how to Pakistan.
- Stated concern
- India warned that such capabilities could potentially reach North Korea.
- Historical reference
- The report says Pakistan supplied uranium-enrichment technology to North Korea, according to US intelligence assessments.
- Defence ministers
- Rajnath Singh met his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi.
- Naval cooperation
- India and Japan agreed to explore joint development in naval shipbuilding and design.
- Indo-Pacific cooperation
- The countries agreed to work with third countries on maritime cooperation.
- Disaster response
- A second Indo-Pacific Logistics Network tabletop exercise is scheduled for September in Japan.