The India-Japan Dharma Guardian Exercises and Their Implications

The ongoing sixth edition of the India-Japan Dharma Guardian exercises began on February 24 at Japan's East Fuji Training Area. Significantly, troop participation has expanded to a company-strength level for the first time since these exercises began in November 2018. Moreover, the increase in troop numbers highlights a continuity in Japan's foreign policy, even after Shigeru Ishiba assumed the role of prime minister.

Defense ties between India and Japan have progressed considerably. Until the 2012 beginning of the Japan-India Maritime Exercises, known as JIMEX, between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), maritime exercises were conducted solely at the coast guard level.

There are also regular air force exercises between the two countries, known as "Veer Guardian."

As per a press release, the "aim of the [Dharma Guardian] exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two forces while undertaking joint urban warfare and counterterrorism operations under United Nations mandate. The exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, and joint tactical drills."

Japan has much to learn from these exercises. The Indian Army is a hardy, battle-trained force that has recently seen fighting. For example, it successfully repulsed China's Galwan Valley attack in 2020.

The Indo-Pacific in Flux

The past few years have seen growing Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific region. Hence, countries like India and Japan need to be careful to ensure that China does not take advantage of the situation vis-à-vis its claims over Taiwan while the US is busy with the Russian war in Ukraine. Freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific is the collective responsibility of all the countries in the region.

However, the new Donald Trump administration has also upended the United States' foreign policy. Soon after taking office, he imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports (but paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada until March 4). Moreover, Washington, DC, has now voted with Russia on sanctions against Ukraine.

Security Challenges for Japan

Japan faces a host of threats in the neighborhood. Recently, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani visited the Philippines and met his Filipino counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. Nakatani and Teodoro agreed to strengthen defense cooperation further.

*Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani welcomes US Lieutenant General Stephen F Jost to Tokyo on October 16. (Courtesy of Ministry of Defense)*

The Philippines is one of the first recipients of Japan's Official Security Assistance. As part of this initiative, Tokyo has been providing monetary aid to strengthen the security capabilities of countries responding to China's growing assertiveness.

In 2024, Japan, the US, and the Philippines held a trilateral summit in Washington and agreed to increase cooperation between the three nations. Tokyo has gradually increased its defense expenditures, which are expected to rise to 5% of its GDP by 2027. Although some feared that Japan under PM Ishiba has been inching closer to China, those fears were laid to rest after his successful visit to the US in February.

*At the Japan-US-Philippines summit meeting (from left) Philippine President Marcos, US President Biden, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House, Washington, DC. (© Kyodo)*

Maritime cooperation between India and Japan entered a new era in 1999 when the Indian Navy rescued the Japanese-flagged vessel Alondra Rainbow. However, non-traditional security threats are still a challenge for Japan. The Indian Navy has been at the forefront of fighting against security threats such as piracy.

In addition, following the attacks on international shipping by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the Indian Navy has taken a proactive role, particularly given India's strong ties with Iran.

Japan, too, faces threats from China, Russia, and North Korea — three nuclear-armed nations. This has grave foreign policy implications for Japan, especially as it has been counting on the US nuclear umbrella amidst various territorial tensions.

Can Japan now take US support for granted? Moreover, the US may ask Japan to pay even more for the thousands of US troops based in Japan.

What Is in it for India?

India has been conducting various exercises with Japan's allies and friends like the US and Australia. This is a step in the right direction. India-Japan defense ties have been increasing at all levels. Another change from the past is that the Indian Armed Forces have bought a lot of US-made weaponry, which has improved the synergy between the Indian and Japanese defense forces.

Exercises like the Dharma Guardian open up the possibility of other cooperation in the defense realm between India and Japan. New Delhi, the world's biggest arms importer, has been looking to diversify its import sources. In the past, the proposed deal between India and Japan for the supply of Japanese-made ShinMaywa US-2 aircraft never materialized. Hopefully, things are different now.

Author: Rupakjyoti Borah

Dr Rupakjyoti Borah is a Senior Research Fellow with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies. The views expressed here are personal.