NEW DELHI: India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, engaged in talks with his Italian counterpart Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, in Rome during the first leg of his official visit to Italy and France. These discussions laid the groundwork for enhanced defence cooperation between the two nations, touching upon various crucial aspects of their partnership, read the Ministry of Defence press release. The high-level meeting between Rajnath Singh and Guido Crosetto saw deliberations on a broad spectrum of defence collaboration, including training initiatives, the exchange of information, joint maritime exercises, and bolstering maritime security. However, the primary focus of the talks was to explore opportunities for advancing defence industrial cooperation. Both ministers acknowledged the complementary strengths and capabilities of India and Italy in the defence sector.The press release stated that they addressed the prospects for joint development initiatives and emphasised the value of promoting communication between Indian start-ups and Italian defence companies. Through this partnership, Indian tech businesses’ inventive potential and Italian defence companies’ knowledge will be fully utilised. The two ministers inked an agreement on cooperation in the sector of defence after their fruitful conversations. According to the press release, this important agreement will encourage bilateral cooperation in a variety of defence-related fields, such as security and defence policy, research and development (R&D), military education, maritime domain awareness, the exchange of defence information, and industrial cooperation. Notably, the agreement covers joint venture formation, co-production, and co-development, demonstrating a comprehensive commitment to growth and development in the defence industry. According to the press release, Rajnath Singh’s trip to Italy began with a formal Guard of Honour ceremony at Villa Madama, emphasising the significance of the trip and the close bilateral relations between India and Italy. The Defence Minister was cordially welcomed by Dr. Neena Malhotra, the Indian Ambassador to Italy, and senior Italian officials upon his arrival at Ciampino Airport, emphasising the cordial diplomatic ties between the two countries. With a shared goal of advancing security, technical innovation, and strategic partnerships on the international stage, this exchange of high-level visits, conversations, and agreements highlights the commitment of India and Italy to advancing their defence cooperation.
