On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and YCAPS members gathered at GRIPS Soukairo Hall in Tokyo to mark ten years of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) concept. The half-day event was co-hosted by the Embassy of India in Japan and the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS), providing a forum to reflect on the evolution of FOIP and the trajectory of India–Japan cooperation.
The program opened with keynote remarks by Ambassador Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Ambassador of India to Japan, and Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu, former Ambassador of Japan to India. Both speakers reflected on how the Indo-Pacific has become central to global economic and strategic developments, and how India and Japan’s respective regional approaches have increasingly aligned over the past decade. Their remarks set the stage for a broader discussion about continuity, adaptation, and the practical meaning of FOIP ten years on.
The first panel, moderated by Dr. Stephen Nagy (YCAPS), featured Mr. Madhu Sudan (Embassy of India), Dr. László Csicsmann (Corvinus University), Professor Taniguchi Tomohiko (University of Tsukuba), and Dr. Astha Chadha (Ritsumeikan University). The discussion focused on India–Japan relations within the FOIP framework, examining how the partnership has developed and what will be required to sustain it in a changing regional environment. Speakers emphasized steady engagement, institutional coordination, and the importance of maintaining long-term strategic focus.
The second panel, moderated by Dr. Narushige Michishita (YCAPS), brought together Dr. Stephen Nagy, CAPT. Yuki Bito (Maritime Command and Staff College), and Ms. Marie Izuyama (National Institute for Defense Studies). The conversation considered how FOIP is understood today and how regional dynamics have shaped its interpretation over time. The afternoon concluded with questions from the audience and continued informal exchanges.
We are grateful to the Embassy of India in Japan for partnering with YCAPS in hosting this special conference, and to Ambassador Mallick, Ambassador Hiramatsu, all panelists, moderators, and attendees for contributing to a thoughtful and substantive discussion.