Rajnath Singh underscores India-EU defence cooperation amid trade pact

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday held talks with Kaja Kallas, High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission, with both sides underlining the need to deepen India-EU defence cooperation, integrate supply chains and expand joint engagement in the Indian Ocean Region.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of the India-EU trade pact, highlighting the potential for closer economic and strategic collaboration. Singh emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships with European nations to ensure resilient defence supply chains and technology-driven cooperation.

During the meeting, Singh said India and the EU share core values of democracy, pluralism and rule of law, which form the basis of their steadily deepening partnership. He stressed that these shared principles must translate into practical cooperation aimed at global stability, sustainable growth and inclusive prosperity.


Highlighting industrial collaboration, Singh said Indian and EU defence industries must synergise their efforts for the larger global good, a move that complements India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat while aligning with the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.

He noted that integrating supply chains would help build trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities, adding that India’s defence industry could play a meaningful role in the EU’s ‘ReArm initiative’ as Europe seeks to diversify suppliers and de-risk dependencies.

Both sides expressed optimism about expanding joint initiatives, signaling a new chapter in India-EU strategic and defence engagement.

Singh described Kallas’ visit as significant, as it coincided with India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, which also saw EU representation at the parade on Kartavya Path.

Kallas, in turn, said India and the EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises. Singh welcomed the EU’s proposal to position a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, saying it would enhance operational coordination in counter-piracy efforts and threat assessment in the region.