What to Know About Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Japan

Modi and Abe discuss various trade deals and pacts designed to develop closer strategic relations

Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Friday, commencing a three-day bilateral meeting in Japan, to discuss developing the two countries’ economic and strategic relationship. “Japan may be on its way to becoming one of India’s most important strategic partners, some years from now,” Sanjib Baruah, an honorary research professor at India’s Centre for Policy Research think-tank and professor at Bard College, tells TIME. “[But] China is the elephant in the room.” Traditional alliances in the region are shifting, as Russia — one of India’s biggest arms suppliers — seeks stronger relationships with Pakistan and China.

As the country looks to phase out its its fleet of Soviet-era aircrafts, India has increasingly looked to Washington, and American defense companies for military equipment. The meeting with Japan is indicative of a continuing pivot for India as the two countries discuss deals ranging from a highly coveted civil nuclear co-operation pact to a defense trade agreement worth more than a billion dollars. “There is always some nervousness in Indian policy circles that the US may be insufficiently appreciative of India’s desire for strategic autonomy. “But with Japan there is no such baggage,” says Baruah. “In the long run I can see Japan occupying the kind of place that Russia once did in Indian foreign and defence policy.” Here’s what you need to know about Modi’s visit to Japan.

1. Pomp and circumstance

Modi’s visit was preceded by much fanfare as 32 members of India’s military band will participate in Japan’s Self Defense Forces 2016 Marching Festival for the first time, celebrating the two countries’ efforts to developing closer strategic ties. According to The Hindustan Times, the festival, which was held in Tokyo this year, is a tradition going back more than half a century and draws audiences of more than 50,000 people. Although India’s marching band has been in Tokyo since earlier this week, the actual festival will take place from November 11 to 13, during Modi’s visit. While the march is a largely symbolic overture, it sets the tone for a meeting highly anticipated in bringing the two countries together both economically, as well as strategically.

2. Search and rescue planes

The meeting will also finalise one of the first military sale’s Japan has made since lifting a 50-year-old export ban on arms sales two years ago.

According to Reuters, India will buy 12 rescue water-planes from Japan, worth an estimated US$1.6 billion (F$3.28bn). The deal will be included in the memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister Abe and Modi during the summit.

3. Civil nuclear co-operation-pact

Modi and Abe will also conclude a much anticipated civil nuclear-co-operation pact, which would allow Japan to sell nuclear technology to India.

According to the Japan Times, the pact will benefit Japanese nuclear-component manufacturers who suffered setbacks after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The deal may also mark the first time Japan has sold nuclear technology to a country that has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Negotiations began in 2010, before either Prime Minister was elected, and the two leaders reached a memorandum of understanding in December of last year, during Abe’s visit to India. Abe’s Vice-Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama traveled to India last month to put finishing touches on the deal.

4. Focus on Regional Security

Despite the promises of the meeting, some experts see the recent US election as a monkey-wrench in terms of projected gains from the bilateral talks — as much of the long term success of the meeting will hinge on US influence in the region. There is also uncertainty as to how the new US administration, under President-elect Donald Trump, will respond to its alliances around the world, especially in Asia. “With the election of Trump, the containment strategy towards China embraced by the US and Japan looks uncertain at best,” Jeff Kingston, Director of Asian Studies in Japan’s Temple University tells TIME.

Although, there has been little indication of Trump’s policies, some fear his “America First” policy speech last April, raised serious questions as to America’s future global commitment in Asia. “The Trump factor reinforces the perception that the US is a declining power in Asia, and leaders will act accordingly,” says Kingston. Among Japan’s largest concerns is China’s increasing military presence in the South China Sea. As an island nation, with very few natural resources, the disputed waterway is Japan’s cheapest trade corridor.

For this reason, China’s militarisation of the sea is of great concern to Japan and one of the areas in which it seeks stronger rhetoric from India. While India issued a joint statement with the US in January, “[calling] on all parties to avoid the threat or use of force and pursue resolution of territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means,” the country has not risked adopting stronger rhetoric against China’s actions in the contested waters. Ahead of Modi’s meeting with Abe, China’s state-run Global Times, warned India of “great losses” should New Delhi decide to call on Beijing to respect the Hague tribunal’s arbitration ruling rebuking China’s behavior in the South China Sea.

Since then, the Times of India reported, Beijing’s foreign ministry has called on New Delhi to “respect [the] legitimate concerns” of India’s northern neighbor during the Indian prime minister’s meeting with Abe. Although India would like to check the growing influence of China in the region, “China has significant capacity to cause trouble for India in its immediate neighbourhood,” says research professor Baruah.

For now, it isn’t in India’s best interest to antagonise the Asian giant — especially when there is still much trepidation as to Trump’s policies and influence in the region. “Everyone is on ‘wait and see’ mode to gauge how Trump will act, because on the campaign trail he was a loose cannon,” says Kingston.