Rajnath Singh Meets His Italian Counterpart In Rome, Signs Defence Cooperation Agreement

The Union Defence Minister is on a two-day visit to Italy and France to expand bilateral strategic engagement and explore industrial cooperation for joint development of military hardware.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto on Tuesday in Rome and signed an agreement on Defence cooperation between both countries. Both the leaders discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation including training, information sharing and maritime security. The union minister is on a two-day visit to Italy and France to expand bilateral strategic engagement and explore industrial cooperation for joint development of military hardware. 

The Defence Minister took to X to write, "Had a warm and productive meeting with the Italian Defence Minister Mr Guido Crosetto in Rome. We discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation which included training, information sharing and maritime security. An Agreement on Defence cooperation was also signed between India and Italy. We look forward to further consolidating our defence partnership."

Had a warm and productive meeting with the Italian Defence Minister Mr Guido Crosetto in Rome. We discussed a host of issues pertaining to defence cooperation which included training, information sharing and maritime security. An Agreement on Defence cooperation was also signed… pic.twitter.com/TyybqSplp9

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 10, 2023

The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in March 2023 during the visit of the Italian Prime Minister to India. The two countries enjoy a cordial relationship. There has been a regular exchange of visits at political and official levels between both countries.

Singh will be heading to Paris to attend the fifth annual India-France defence dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastian Lecornu, reported news agency PTI.

A press release from the Defence Ministry stated, "India and France recently celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation.”

In both Rome and Paris, the defence minister will also interact with defence industry CEOs and senior representatives to discuss potential opportunities for industrial cooperation.

The defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years. There has been a regular exchange of visits at both political as well as at official levels between both nations, reported PTI.