New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): A unique form of diplomacy via social media was witnessed on Friday among Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese and Belgian counterparts Shinjiro Rokoiz and Theo Francken.
During the meeting between Singh and Francken in New Delhi on Thursday, the Belgian defence minister extended heartfelt greetings conveyed by Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Rokoiz, who also arrived in India on a state visit last month.
Highlighting the interaction and expressing his gratitude, the Japanese Defence Minister wrote in a post on X that he conveyed his greetings to India during the Belgian Minister’s visit to Japan.
“When I met Belgium’s Minister Francken @FranckenTheo in Japan, I told him to please give my best regards to Minister Singh if he went to India. As a result, he ended up using the part where Minister Singh’s account mentioned me. This is also a product of the exchange between ministers. Minister Francken, Minister Singh @rajnathsingh, thank you very much!” he wrote.
ベルギーのフランケン大臣@FranckenTheo と日本でお会いした時に、インドに行ったらシン大臣にくれぐれもよろしくとお伝えしました。結果、シン大臣のアカウントで私に言及した部分を使ってくれる結果に。これも、大臣間の交流の賜物です。フランケン大臣、シン大臣@rajnathsingh…
— 小泉進次郎 (@shinjirokoiz) September 3, 2026
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Rokoiz made the remarks in response to a video of Minister Rajnath Singh welcoming his counterpart Theo Francken.
The video from a bilateral meeting shows Francken telling Singh, “I’m coming from Japan and I have to… the Minister of Japan’s Defence, he was here last week. He, he asked me to give you all the warm greetings. And he sent me this morning a message, “Don’t forget all my warm greetings to you.”
In response, Singh said, “Thank you very much.”
Responding to the warm remarks, Singh thanked the Japanese Minister in a post on X, and expressed hopes for further strengthening of the bilateral ties between New Delhi and Tokyo.
“Thank you for the warm regards, my friend @shinjirokoiz! The message was well received, and duly reciprocated during Minister @FranckenTheo’s highly productive visit to India. Looking forward to further strengthening our deep-rooted partnership during my next visit to Japan!” he wrote.
Thank you for the warm regards, my friend @shinjirokoiz! The message was well received, and duly reciprocated during Minister @FranckenTheo‘s highly productive visit to India. Looking forward to further strengthening our deep-rooted partnership during my next visit to Japan!… https://t.co/VxLJXF5AVE
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 4, 2026
The series of greetings stems from Rajnath Singh’s welcome to his counterpart Shinjiro Rokoiz during his visit to India last month in Japanese: “Konichiwa Koizumi San!” which met with Rokoiz’s prompt response in Hindi, “Namaste!”
The friendly interaction between the two leaders via posts on X instantly garnered attention.
Namaste! https://t.co/y1IZaC9i4z
— 小泉進次郎 (@shinjirokoiz) August 20, 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence and strategic ties, as they held high-level talks in New Delhi last month.
The talks focused on expanding defence cooperation, strengthening military interoperability, boosting defence manufacturing and enhancing maritime security, with both sides stressing the importance of a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for greater defence cooperation between India and Belgium, saying the two countries have the potential to further expand their partnership amid a period of “great geopolitical and economic turmoil” globally.
Singh made the remarks during the India-Belgium Defence Ministers’ Meeting in the national capital, where he highlighted the longstanding partnership between the two countries based on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared commitment to a rules-based global order.
Defence Minister Theo Francken, who is in India along with Prime Minister Bart De Wever on an official visit to the country from September 2 to 4, led the Belgian delegation. (ANI)