The Indian Army and Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force conducted joint training including anti-terrorism operations for two weeks at a training facility in India.
India appears to be aiming to strengthen cooperation with Japan in the defense field, as China continues to have tense relations over its borders and is increasing its influence over neighboring countries.
This was the fifth joint training exercise between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, with 40 participants from each unit, and was held for two weeks until the 9th at a training facility in the desert area of Rajasthan state in western India.
The Indian Army is said to have extensive experience and high capabilities in counter-terrorism operations, and in collaboration with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, conducted operations such as suppressing hidden terrorists and training to break into buildings.
India has a border dispute with neighboring China, and in 2020 there were clashes that resulted in casualties on both sides, and the relationship continues to be tense.
Furthermore, China has recently been expanding its influence one after another in India's neighboring countries, such as the Maldives and Bangladesh, and India appears to be aiming to promote stronger cooperation with Japan in the field of defense.
Rear Admiral Yuichi Togashi, commander of the Eastern Ground Self-Defense Force, who visited the site to observe the training, said, ``Strengthening cooperation will lead to strengthening the maintenance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.''