Berlin, April 22 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in Berlin on Wednesday during a three-day official visit to Germany. The visit, running April 21–23, included a ceremonial welcome, a wreath-laying and military honours at a reception hosted by the German Ministry of Defence.
Singh’s formal engagements in Germany began after he met members of the Indian diaspora and addressed the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security. The visit is intended to deepen the strategic defence partnership between India and Germany, with talks expected to cover defence industrial cooperation, collaboration on emerging technologies and expanded military ties.
On Tuesday, Singh addressed the Indian community in Berlin, describing the diaspora as a “living bridge” between India and Germany and commending its role in the country’s progress. He highlighted India’s rapid strides in infrastructure, startups, space and digital innovation as signs of the nation’s transformation.
Singh reiterated India’s balanced diplomatic posture under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly with regard to global conflicts, including the situation in West Asia. He said India has urged both sides to end the fighting and signalled that New Delhi remains open to contributing to peace efforts when conditions allow.
Maritime security was a key theme of his remarks: Singh stressed India’s diplomatic actions to ensure safe sea lanes and noted that these measures have helped several Indian vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz without incident.
Speaking to the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security, Singh underlined India’s concerns about energy security. He warned that any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would have immediate and direct consequences for India’s economy and national stability. As a developing country heavily reliant on energy supplies from the West Asian region, such disruptions pose urgent challenges to both security and economic interests, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of Defence.
The meetings in Berlin aim to translate these shared concerns and priorities into practical cooperation across defence industry ties, technology sharing and joint initiatives that strengthen bilateral security and economic resilience.
