Modi Calls Takaichi 'Younger Sister' as India, Japan Ink Landmark Defence, AI and Economic Security Deals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on Thursday held wide-ranging summit talks in New Delhi , unveiling a series of major agreements covering defence , artificial intelligence (AI) , economic security , energy resilience , and critical technologies. The meeting also grabbed attention for a warm personal moment, with Modi referring to the visiting Japanese leader as his " younger sister ."

Takaichi, Japan's first woman Prime Minister , is on her first official visit to India. She received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before holding delegation-level talks with Modi at Hyderabad House. During the joint press conference, Modi greeted her in Hindi as "my younger sister, Prime Minister Takaichi Ji," praising her leadership and highlighting the shared Buddhist heritage between Nara Prefecture and India. Listening through simultaneous translation, Takaichi smiled and later responded by saying the two nations had agreed to strengthen their ties as "brother and sister."

The summit marked the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit and resulted in several significant outcomes. The two countries adopted a Joint Declaration on Economic Security , a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence , and a Joint Statement on Energy Resilience . They also exchanged multiple Memorandums of Understanding covering clean energy, research and development, economic security, and emerging technologies while announcing plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 .

A major highlight was the signing of India and Japan's first-ever defence co-development agreement , reflecting growing strategic trust. Both nations also agreed to work together o n naval radio antenna systems, shipbu ilding, semiconductors, biogas, and other critical technologies. Modi said Japan's strength in precision engineering combined with India's software expertise could accelerate global AI innovation and help build more resilient supply chains in strategic sectors.

Referring to today's uncertain global environment, Modi said mutual trust had become the greatest strategic asset and described the India-Japan partnership as stronger than ever. He also acknowledged Japan's long-standing contribution to India's development in sectors such as automobiles and electronics.

Takaichi reaffirmed both countries' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific , stressing the importance of maritime security cooperation and adherence to international law. With both sides expressing confidence in the partnership's future, the summit marked another significant step in expanding the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan while promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.