Amidst increasing tensions with the US over India's purchase of Russian oil, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This comes ahead of Putin's upcoming visit to India, the first since the 2022 Ukraine conflict. The meeting also included discussions on defense and energy ties, with both sides emphasizing the strength and importance of the long-standing friendship and partnership between the two countries.
Amidst ongoing monsoon rains, a cloudburst struck Rajgarh in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in three fatalities and two missing individuals. Rescue operations are underway, but hampered by the adverse weather conditions that threaten to cause further damage. The disaster highlights the urgent need for measures to build resilience and better disaster management in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sendai, Japan, for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, where he travelled on the famous Shinkansen with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. During the visit, PM Modi emphasized the potential of partnerships between Indian states and Japanese prefectures, with a focus on areas such as trade, innovation, startups, and emerging technologies. This was part of the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative launched between both countries to strengthen sub-national collaborations and foster deeper economic integration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing dream of bringing a Japanese bullet train to India is finally coming to fruition. During his recent visit to Japan, Modi rode in the state-of-the-art Shinkansen new ALFA-X train with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. They also visited a chip equipment manufacturing plant, where India’s mission to develop its own semiconductors is making significant progress. With Gujarat serving as the first leg of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Train project, the government plans to complete the stretch by December 2029, with the Gujarat section potentially becoming operational in the midst of the state’s 2027 assembly elections. Various construction and infrastructure works, including the completion of twelve thematically designed bullet train stations, are currently underway.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sendai city, Japan, with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on a bullet train. The two leaders have plans to visit a semiconductor facility and sign several MoUs covering defense, trade, technology, and business cooperation. This visit comes in the midst of tensions with the US over tariffs and PM Modi's attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. A warm welcome was given to PM Modi by locals chanting "Modi san welcome."
During his visit to Japan, PM Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack and called for action against all terrorist groups. They also reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. In an interview, PM Modi emphasized the importance of stable and amicable relations between India and China for regional and global peace and prosperity. The two leaders also discussed deepening cooperation in areas such as defence, cyber security, and innovation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced during a parliamentary debate that Turkey has taken measures to cut off trade with Israel and prohibit their planes from entering Turkish airspace in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This comes after Turkey demanded a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza and previously cut direct trade ties in 2024. The move has been praised by some and criticized by others, with President Erdogan comparing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler. Meanwhile, Reliance Industries and Meta Platforms have announced a partnership to make open-source AI models more accessible for Indian businesses, and Google and Reliance will establish a dedicated cloud region in Jamnagar.
In a joint press meet with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India and Japan's commitment to a free, open, peaceful, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders also announced plans to further strengthen mutual cooperation in the defence industry and innovation. In an interview before his visit to Tokyo, PM Modi emphasized the success of the India-Japan collaboration in the defence sector and highlighted their shared interest in peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation adopted during the visit will further advance their ambition for a secure and stable Indo-Pacific for generations to come.
In an interview with a leading Japanese daily, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes the shared vision of India and Japan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific region. With their strong and extensive linkages with countries in the region, both countries are committed to working together on various issues ranging from maritime safety and security to space cooperation. As PM Modi arrives in Japan for his visit, the focus is on strengthening the agenda of the Quad alliance, which is seen as a strategic counterbalance to China.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a significant step towards strengthening ties with Japan as he announced an ambitious 10 trillion yen investment target for the next decade. The deal reflects Tokyo's growing confidence in India's economic growth and aims to foster cooperation in cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors, AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Both leaders also emphasised the importance of people-to-people connections and cultural ties, reaffirming their commitment to shaping a better world together.
In his address at the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India's potential as an investment hub and highlighted the strong partnership between India and Japan. The talks will focus on expanding economic and investment ties and collaboration in emerging technologies. This visit will be followed by a trip to China for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where PM Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.