New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Sanae Takaichi on her projected historic victory in the recent snap elections for Japan's lower house. Modi conveyed his confidence that under Takaichi's leadership, the India-Japan friendship would reach greater heights.
Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), are projected to win a significant majority in the 465-member lower house. According to NHK, the ruling bloc is expected to secure between 302 and 366 seats, potentially giving them a two-thirds majority. This would be the first time the ruling bloc has achieved a two-thirds majority since 2017, under the leadership of Takaichi's mentor, the late ex-premier Shinzo Abe.
Capitalizing on her popularity since assuming office in October 2025, Takaichi called the snap elections to secure a fresh mandate. The LDP had been losing support in recent elections due to rising prices and corruption, but Takaichi has injected new life into the party.
Takaichi, 64, is known for her straight-talking style and image as a hard worker, which has garnered her strong backing among younger voters. Since taking office, she has moved swiftly to accelerate military spending to counter China and has pushed for a sales-tax cut, a move that has unsettled financial markets.
Modi emphasized that the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability, and shared prosperity. The relationship between India and Japan has significantly transformed since the early 2000s. Japanese capital and technology have played a crucial role in shaping India's infrastructure, as seen in projects like the Delhi Metro and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail.
During her time as Communications Minister in 2015 and 2017, Takaichi worked extensively with New Delhi, focusing on cooperation in the digital economy, smart city projects, and cybersecurity. India is increasingly viewed as a vital democratic, technological, and manufacturing partner for global supply chain diversification and occupies a pivotal position in Japan's economic security strategy, particularly regarding semiconductors, telecommunications, and rare-earth minerals.
Analysts suggest that Takaichi's election could be a pivotal moment for India-Japan relations, with ties expected to strengthen in areas such as infrastructure, defense, human capital development, and regional engagement across the Indo-Pacific and Africa. A key focus of this partnership is the emerging Japan-India-Indian Ocean Region-Africa initiative, which aims to integrate security, trade, technology, and human capital development across strategic nodes.
Both countries have initiated dialogues on maritime security, anti-piracy operations, and regional surveillance, with India's naval capabilities enabling Japan to extend its presence safely across critical sea lanes. This collaboration is expected to include joint naval exercises, maritime domain awareness networks, and technology transfers for coastal surveillance.
Takaichi's leadership promises to revive the Abe-era enthusiasm towards India, blending traditional areas of engagement with new domains of innovation. While some differences may arise in labor mobility and human resource exchange, bilateral trade and investment are likely to improve in critical sectors. Her firm position on China's expansionism resonates with India's concerns, paving the way for deeper collaboration through multilateral forums such as the Quad and enhanced joint military exercises.