Economic security as strategic diplomacy: Analyzing the 2nd India-Japan economic security dialogue in the Indo-pacific context

The consolidation of economic security as a core pillar of statecraft has reshaped the strategic partnership between India and Japan, especially within the evolving Indo-Pacific order. This article analyses the Second India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue, held in New Delhi in May 2026, as a case study of how economic tools are used in strategic diplomacy. It situates the dialogue within the broader India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including the 2025 Economic Security Initiative and issue-specific mechanisms on critical minerals, semiconductors, clean energy, ICT, and pharmaceuticals. The article defines economic security in international relations, linking it to geoeconomics, interdependence, and supply chain securitisation. It then examines the institutional design and sectoral focus, drawing on official and think tank sources to show how bilateral cooperation fits within frameworks such as the Quad, IPEF, and critical minerals partnerships. The analysis shows that the Second Dialogue marks a mature phase of cooperation, where economic security boosts resilience, signals to third parties, and promotes a rules-based order. It also highlights constraints such as technological asymmetries, regulatory frictions, and the need to balance China-related risks with a non-confrontational Indo-Pacific approach. The conclusion discusses implications for regional economic governance and suggests further research on economic security and security architectures in the Indo-Pacific.