Japan plans to deploy fighter jets in India for the first time next month, a decision experts say reflects Tokyo’s desire to strengthen security cooperation with “like-minded” countries in the Indo-Pacific region as it ramps up defence spending in response to China’s growing military power.
According to a Japan Air Self-Defence Force announcement on Tuesday, Tokyo will conduct a joint training exercise, Veer Guardian 26, with the Indian Air Force between September 9 and 21 in Rajasthan in western India.
As part of the joint training, Tokyo said it would deploy three F-2 fighter jets to India, as well as about 110 personnel from the Eighth Air Wing stationed at Tsuiki Airbase in southwestern Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture.
“This will be a valuable opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and trust,” said Takehiro Morita, chief of staff of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.
The deployment – Japan’s first involving fighter jets to India – comes on the heels of a visit by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to India last week.
Koizumi met Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and pledged “to further deepen defence cooperation” through bilateral exercises, aiming to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.