Modi in Japan: Reviving Manmohan Singh’s Script on Trump Trails
Image credit X @jakesullivan
As US tariffs unsettle global economies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tokyo visit builds on Manmohan Singh–Shinzo Abe’s legacy of economic and defense cooperation, with Quad, security, and technology partnerships high on the agenda.
By MANISH ANAND
NEW DELHI, August 25, 2025 — In the shadow of US President Donald Trump, India and Japan face similar challenges as tariffs roil their economies. Riding on ‘MAGA’, Trump is pressuring nations to commit investments into the US, with decision-making power centralized in Washington. With tariffs, both India and Japan risk disruptions whose consequences remain uncertain.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Tokyo, he will receive a warm reception, thanks to the groundwork laid by his predecessor, the late Manmohan Singh, during his Japan visit. Alongside the late Shinzo Abe, Singh had scripted an India-Japan partnership that extended beyond economics into deeper defense cooperation.
Abe had guided Japan to shed its pacifist outlook. As an architect of the Quad — the grouping of the US, Australia, India, and Japan — he championed building a parallel power structure to balance China. Japan continues to face a border dispute with Beijing.
Last week, Ishiba boarded a UK warship, signaling his intention to follow in Abe’s footsteps in reshaping Japan’s defense outlook. He now faces domestic challenges amid Trump’s pressure on Tokyo to bear more costs for the American security umbrella. To reduce reliance on the US, Ishiba may need to chart a new course toward greater self-reliance. In this context, the India-Japan defense cooperation framework, initiated during Singh’s tenure, could prove valuable for both Modi and Ishiba.
With proven global leadership in engineering, Japan also holds the potential to fill technology gaps for India if the US were to deny access to critical technologies. Already, India is executing its maiden high-speed rail project — the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train — funded by Japan. Spin-offs like a Rail University are also taking shape.
Modi and Ishiba are also expected to deliberate on the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit. Commentators have begun to question whether New Delhi will host the meeting amid rising tensions with the Trump administration.
Japan was among the first nations to strongly condemn the Pahalgam terror attack and backed India’s response against its sponsors. With Trump emerging as a potential adversary for both India and Japan, the two countries now have an opportunity to recalibrate ties. Indian skilled manpower could support Japan’s aging workforce, while India could serve as a manufacturing hub for Japanese firms targeting global markets.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
