This article is a part of the series - Raisina Chronicles 2024
I would like to covey my sincere congratulations on your holding of the 9th Raisina Dialogue. It is a great honour for me to welcome the 10th anniversary of this dialogue with all concerned members.
Currently, the world is facing a turning point in history where geopolitical competitions are increasingly fiercer and various issues that require the cooperation of the whole international community to solve have occurred. In such a world, India, which is a democracy with the largest population in the world, has realised steady economic development and holds a great influence in South Asia. Additionally, India’s location in the Indian Ocean gives it strategic and geopolitical importance.
Currently, the world is facing a turning point in history where geopolitical competitions are increasingly fiercer and various issues that require the cooperation of the whole international community to solve have occurred.
I deeply understand these backgrounds, so I would like to express my respect to the leadership of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), which have realised this dialogue, the platform integrating opinion leaders and influential words.
The Raisina Dialogue is an extremely meaningful discussion platform with the participation of ministers, senior government officers, Chiefs of Defence (CHODs), business executives, media personnel, and researchers and fellows from various countries, and has built the foundation of the peace and stability of the region and then has contributed to the global peace and stability through discussions on various issues in the Indo-Pacific region. I strongly believe that the importance of the dialogue will be further increased in the future. I am pleased from the bottom of my heart that Japan and India, fulfilling such important responsibilities, share a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ and the relationship between the two countries is being strengthened at an accelerating pace.
The Raisina Dialogue is an extremely meaningful discussion platform with the participation of ministers, senior government officers, Chiefs of Defence (CHODs), business executives, media personnel, and researchers and fellows from various countries, and has built the foundation of the peace and stability of the region and then has contributed to the global peace and stability through discussions on various issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
I have participated in this dialogue four times since the 5th edition, and through the multilateral panel discussions and meetings, I had frank and open-minded discussions on the future of the global security environment with the CHODs of our allies and likeminded countries, including India, which share universal values and strategic interests. This dialogue, which provides many and various players with opportunities to meet, is extremely meaningful to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen collaboration. Especially, I remember it like it was yesterday: in the 5th edition (in 2020), I had an opportunity to meet with General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff, who passed away in January of 2021 after an unfortunate accident. It was the first CHOD level meeting for General Rawat after his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff; however, we were able to exchange our opinions candidly. The outcomes of the meeting are reflected in our current bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation. By taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere respect for General Rawat.
This dialogue, which provides many and various players with opportunities to meet, is extremely meaningful to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen collaboration.
Furthermore, I would like to stress that, through meetings and discussions with CHODs, I realised that the presence of India as a geopolitical player and the expectation from the international community on the role of India has been increasing over the years. Taking a look at the deepening of defence cooperation between the Japan Self-Defense Force and the Indian Armed Force, under the vision of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’, Japan and India are essential to realising a rules-based, free, and open international order and secure peace and stability in the region. I recognise that, currently, India is seeking to establish a joint force based on the Joint Doctrine Indian Armed Forces in 2017. Simultaneously, the Japan Self-Defense Force is striving to strengthen its joint operation postures, represented by the establishment of a Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). Under these movements, the first Japan-India Joint Staff Talks were held in September of this year. As a former Chief of Staff, Japan Joint Staff, I am delighted from the bottom of my heart to see the start of joint level cooperation between Japan and India, which was my earnest desire. Such developments in Japan-India cooperation will provide the Raisina Dialogue with new opportunities for dialogue and discussions.
I would like to convey my congratulations, hoping that the dialogue continues to be an ‘ideas arena’ for all participants in the future.
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