Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held talks with the High Representative of the European Union Commission, Kaja Kallas, in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, industrial partnerships and security collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region.
During the meeting, Singh underlined that India and the EU are united by shared values such as democracy, pluralism and the rule of law, which continue to drive their expanding strategic partnership. He emphasised the need for deeper defence-industrial cooperation, stating that both sides should “synergise their efforts for the larger global good”.
Singh said such cooperation aligns with India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy. He highlighted the potential for supply-chain integration to strengthen trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities.
Singh also noted that India’s defence industry could play a significant role in the EU’s ‘ReArm initiative’, as the bloc seeks to diversify suppliers and reduce strategic dependencies. He described Kallas’ visit as “special” as it coincided with India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations.
Expressing gratitude for being part of the Republic Day events, Kallas said India and the EU should deepen cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and benefit from joint exercises and shared best practices. She also welcomed stronger maritime coordination to address regional security challenges.
The Defence Minister endorsed the EU’s proposal to station a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram. The move is expected to boost operational coordination on issues such as counter-piracy and maritime threat assessment.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing strategic collaboration against the backdrop of evolving global security dynamics.
