India and Japan are among the 5 largest economies in the world today, but both have to face many similar challenges in terms of economy, trade and politics, world security as well as from the impact of conflicts in many parts of the world.
Looking at the context of that situation, the results of Ms. Sanae Takaichi's visit to India show that both sides have taken the time to escape difficulties, and both intentionally find ways to proactively respond to the new situation context instead of being pushed by the times as before.
These results have in fact linked India and Japan into a very special form of force, not based on cultural or historical similarities but based on similar concerns about external challenges and based on very specific and practical economic and security interests.
Both have shifted from diplomatic gestures and statements mainly to specific actions for the future in areas such as defense and security, armed and maritime, energy and environment, economic and technological security, infrastructure and supply chains.
One of the most prominent and certainly noticed externally is the agreement between Ms. Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on moving towards establishing a mechanism to use the local currency as a payment instrument in bilateral trade relations, reducing dependence on other foreign currencies, especially the USD, in the context that dedollarization is a very sensitive and topical issue in world politics.
Linking together like that, Japan and India not only help each other escape difficulties but also create a very large power and influence axis in the Indo-Pacific region. India has a new counterweight for relations with other major partners while Japan also has more open doors to access and associate with the Global South.
