What happened:
On January 17, 2026, India and Japan unveiled new initiatives to deepen cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and critical minerals during the 18th India–Japan Strategic Dialogue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi launched a dedicated AI Dialogue and agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on critical minerals, including rare earths. Both sides also decided to hold a private-sector dialogue under the economic security framework, with the second Economic Security Dialogue scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Why it matters to India:
The initiatives strengthen economic security and supply chain resilience, especially in strategic sectors like AI and rare earths. They reinforce the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, positioning India as a key partner in shaping trusted technology ecosystems and secure access to critical resources.