Of Summits and Sumac
In this week’s edition, I discuss the US-Japan Summit, the Paris Action Summit co-hosted by France and India, Indo-Greece ties and the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor.
Credits: Embassy of Japan, Washington D.C.
The Golden Era of US-Japan ties
When Prime Minister Ishiba met President Trump at the White House this week, he presented him with a golden samurai helmet, known as the "Eternal Helmet," crafted by a company from Ishiba's hometown. This gift, valued at over $1,000, was specially made for the occasion after the recent popularity of the TV series Shogun. In return, Trump gifted Ishiba a copy of his 'Save America' picture book, featuring a cover photo from his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer.
Very deftly, PM Ishiba opened his remarks by commending Trump’s resilience during the attack, a gesture that appeared to resonate deeply with the President. By beginning on a personal note rather than simply reiterating the US-Japan alliance, he demonstrated a keen diplomatic instinct, setting a tone of warmth and mutual respect for the discussions ahead.
On tariffs, when Ishiba was asked whether Japan would retaliate in case the US levied them, his answer was, “I am unable to respond to a theoretical question”. Amusingly, the response was appreciated by Trump, who emphasised the need to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, which stands at approximately $70 billion. He expressed optimism about resolving trade issues amicably but did not rule out the possibility of imposing tariffs if necessary.
More importantly, both leaders reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance, particularly in addressing regional security challenges posed by China and North Korea. They agreed to enhance defence collaboration and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump said,
“The United States is totally committed to the security of Japan. We will extend the full strength of American deterrence capabilities and defense of our friend and ally 100%. In the years to come, the Prime Minister and I would be working closely together to maintain peace and security.”
Following the meeting, a joint statement was released, highlighting the commitment of both nations to strengthen their alliance and collaborate on economic and security issues. On Taiwan, the statement noted,
“The two leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community. They encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. The two leaders also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.”
While speaking to the NHK, RAND’s Jeffrey Hornung remarked, “To put that in there, shows that the allies are willing to try to give Taiwan more diplomatic breathing room in the international arena. It puts China on the defense because they will wonder what Japan and the US are going to do, to help support Taiwan and international organizations. Maybe nothing comes out of this, but the fact that they put that out there as one of the targets of where they want to cooperate, is meaningful.”
Ishiba’s ability to maintain strong ties with Japan’s allies was under question amid declining popularity at home. However, an NHK poll indicates that his approval ratings have risen following the summit. While relations with Washington appear to be on solid ground, it is still early days for both Trump and Ishiba. A leader’s diplomatic acumen is measured not by a single meeting but by sustained engagement at the highest levels. For now, Ishiba can count this as a victory.
Paris AI Action Summit and India-France Bilateral Meeting
Co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week, the Paris AI Action Summit convened global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and academics to deliberate on the future trajectory of AI development and governance.
In conjunction with the summit, they issued a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to promoting safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems. It underlined the importance of ensuring that AI norms and standards reflect democratic values while contributing to human development and the common good.
The leaders also held bilateral talks culminating in several agreements. They signed a declaration of intent to establish a partnership focused on the development of advanced and small modular nuclear reactors. On capacity building, an implementing agreement was established between India's Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP) and France's National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN) to collaborate in the training and education of nuclear professionals.
Both leaders welcomed the commissioning of the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene-class project, INS Vaghsheer. In order to deepen the research and development partnerships in defence, they stressed on the early launch of an R&D framework through a Technical Arrangement for cooperation in defence technologies between DGA and DRDO. Overall, the summit and the meeting marked a new high in India-France partnership.
The Renaissance of Indo-Greek Relations
Last week, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis visited India to meet with India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar. Their discussions focused on various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, and cultural exchanges. The Ministers agreed to work to speed up the conclusion of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, recognising the economic benefits of promoting regular mobility of the workforce.
The trade relationship between India and Greece has seen substantial growth. Bilateral trade increased from approximately USD 615 million in the fiscal year 2020-21 to around USD 1.95 billion in FY 2022-23. Both nations have set an ambitious goal to double this figure by 2030, focusing on sectors such as shipping, tourism, agriculture, and technology.
This visit follows a series of high-level interactions. In February last year, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid a state visit to India, the first by a head of government in more than 15 years. A key area of discussion during these meetings has been the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). Both India and Greece view the IMEEC as a pivotal engine to strengthen connectivity between Asia and Europe, facilitating trade and economic integration.
The IMEEC is an ambitious initiative. Announced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, it seeks to establish a seamless network of railways, ports, and digital infrastructure connecting South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The corridor involves multiple countries, including India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Greece, among others.
For India, the IMEC represents not only economic growth but also a strategic move to assert its geopolitical relevance, offering an alternative to existing trade routes. The initiative is still in the planning and development stages but holds promise as India seeks to exert its influence in shaping global supply chains.
What We’re Reading and Listening to
[Podcast] In this episode of The Great Power Show, Manoj Kewalramani talks to Dhruv Jaishnkar on how India can navigate a world that has aspects of unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity at the same time.
[Newsletter] Read the special edition of the Technopolitik, where the Takshashila team breaks down the 2025-26 Union Budget, discussing semiconductors, space, nuclear energy and cyber-security.
[Book] We have all heard of the Cholas being a naval power. But how did a medieval South Indian kingdom conquer the distant Southeast Asian islands, and why? Read Anirudh Kanisetti’s latest book, Lords of Earth and Sea: A History of the Chola Empire