India
Discussions on Iran come as American wavier for import of Iranian oil and the ongoing US-Iran tensions impact both India and Japan.
Updated : Jun 30, 2019, 05:03 PM IST | Edited by : Ahamad Fuwad
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono held Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue on the sidelines of the G20 at Osaka on Saturday. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed rising US-Iran tensions and upcoming 2+2 dialogue.
Discussions on Iran come as American wavier for import of Iranian oil and the ongoing US-Iran tensions impact both India and Japan. Earlier this month, Japanse Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in Tehran and sought to mediate between the US and Iran as both countries head towards a confrontation that impacts energy security of Japan.
India has already publically raised concerns of Tehran-Washington tensions as an escalation could impact its large diaspora in West Asia and energy security.
The talks lasted for 80 minutes during which Japanese FM mentioned about the upcoming 2+2 India-Japan Defence and Foreign Ministers' meet later this year, ahead of the visit of Abe to India for the annual summit between the 2 countries.
A Japan Foreign Ministry statement said, "Minister Kono stated that an agreed “2+2” Ministerial Meeting is important in advancing security and defense cooperation between the two countries and demonstrating the roles that Japan and India can play for the peace and stability of the region."
This is the second 2+2 format meet India will be having with any country, after the US, with which India had maiden 2+2 talks in Delhi last year.
The two ministers shared the view to "continue cooperation toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific". Japan, India along with US and Australia are already having discussions under quad format. Japan FM welcomed the progress of Japan-India-US-Australia cooperation, expressing his hope to further deepen its cooperation", the release said.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Japanese PM Abe, first for a bilateral and then during the JAI--Japan, America and India trilateral on the sidelines of the 14th G20 Summit. Both countries are now looking to develop infrastructure in 3rd countries and agreed to build cancer hospital in Kenya and develop part of Colombo port in Sri Lanka.