India and Japan sign Logistics Agreement

India and Japan signed a logistics agreement on September 10, 2020. The agreement on ‘Reciprocal Provision Supplies and Services’ will allow the Armed Forces of India and Japan to coordinate closely in services and supplies. The agreement was signed by Defence Secretary of India and Ambassador of Japan.

Significance of the agreement

• The agreement will increase interoperability between the Armed Forces of India and Japan.
• It will assist both the countries in maintaining regional security.
• The agreement will establish the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the Armed Forces of India and Japan in reciprocal provision of supplies and services.
• The agreement seeks to further the engagements in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed activities.
• Agreement will also help both sides to coordinate on medical requirements, supplies, maintenance, airlifting and communication.
• The agreement signed is mainly aimed at greater maritime cooperation. It can upgrade India-Japan naval exercises as both are expected to share maritime facilities for mutual benefit.

 India-Japan Relation

India and Japan cooperate in areas including defence, science and trade. India and Japan had upgraded their relationship to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014. One of the key areas of cooperation between the two is Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR) in the Railway Sector. In October 2018, “India-Japan Digital Partnership” (I-JDP) was also launched during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Japan. This furthered the scope of cooperation in S&T/ICT, focusing more on “Digital ICT Technologies”.  Earlier, In August 2018, The India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force which covers trade in goods, services, movement of natural persons, investments, Intellectual Property Rights, custom procedures and other trade related issues. Further, India and Japan defence forces engages in several bilateral exercises namely, Japan India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) , SHINYUU Maitri, and Dharma Guardian.  They have also participated in Malabar exercise with USA.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2020