Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has assured India that Tokyo remains committed to the Quad alliance and the Indo-Pacific framework, even as the United States stays silent on the grouping during President Donald Trump’s ongoing Asia tour.
In her first call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since taking office last week, Takaichi highlighted Japan and India’s shared strategic interests and emphasized that cooperation within the Quad – comprising Japan, India, Australia, and the US – will continue to be central to Tokyo’s regional policy.
The conversation followed Trump’s visit to Japan, where the Quad received no public mention, raising speculation that Washington’s focus on the alliance has diminished. Modi congratulated Takaichi and expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral ties in areas such as defence, innovation, and economic security. Both leaders reaffirmed that close coordination between India and Japan is essential for maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tokyo’s statement noted that Japan intends to deepen collaboration with India under their “Joint Vision for the Next Decade,” expanding cooperation in security, investment, and technology. The two countries aim to enhance people-to-people exchanges and advance their “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.”
The phone call came amid growing uncertainty about the Quad’s future under Trump’s second term. His recent meetings with regional leaders, including those of Australia and Japan, have focused more on bilateral trade and defence arrangements like AUKUS rather than the Quad’s broader strategic objectives.
Despite this shift, Japan’s new leadership appears determined to sustain momentum in regional cooperation with India, signaling Tokyo’s intent to keep the Indo-Pacific and Quad partnerships at the heart of its foreign policy.
