New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday will hold bilateral talks with Italy’s Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto in New Delhi.
According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the ministers will discuss a range of issues covering defence cooperation between the two countries and are expected to exchange views on regional and global security in light of the evolving security landscape.
The MoD noted that defence cooperation between India and Italy gained momentum after Raksha Mantri’s visit to Rome in October 2023. Crosetto’s maiden visit to India underscores both nations’ desire to expand existing cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration, particularly in defence industrial partnership.
The signing of the India-EU Defence & Strategic Partnership in January 2026 signalled increasing strategic convergence and provided further impetus to defence industrial cooperation on shared priorities, the statement added.
India-Italy defence ties have broadened to include dialogue, service-to-service interactions, training, defence equipment exports, information sharing, port calls, naval exercises and maritime security. An agreement on Defence Cooperation was signed following Rajnath Singh’s 2023 visit to Italy.
Earlier this year, India and the European Union signed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership, creating the first overarching defence and security framework between them. In a joint statement after the 16th India-EU Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, leaders welcomed the SDP, noting it would strengthen collaboration in maritime security, the defence industry and technology, cyber and hybrid threats, space and counterterrorism, among other areas.
Under the partnership, India and the EU agreed to upgrade existing Security and Defence Consultations into an annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue, institutionalising regular high-level engagement. The sides will consult on respective defence initiatives and explore opportunities for India’s participation in relevant EU defence programmes, consistent with legal frameworks.
To bolster defence industrial collaboration, the joint statement announced the establishment of an industry-led India-EU Defence Industry Forum, bringing together businesses from both sides with official observers and participation of EU member states. The forum will focus on identifying cooperation opportunities in defence manufacturing, innovation and technology.
Leaders also committed to deepening engagement on regional security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. (ANI)
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