India, Italy deepen defence ties during Defence Secretary’s visit to Rome
ROME. India and Italy reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering defence cooperation during Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s official visit to Rome from April 14 to 15. The trip underscored the growing importance of defence collaboration as a key pillar of the India-Italy strategic partnership.
Kicking off the visit, Singh called on Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto for a high-level meeting. Both sides engaged in wide-ranging discussions focused on enhancing bilateral defence ties.
A major highlight of the visit was the 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee meeting, which Singh co-chaired with his Italian counterpart, Secretary General of Defence Luisa Riccardi. The two delegations explored multiple areas of cooperation, including maritime security, information sharing, and collaboration within the Trans Regional Maritime Network. They also exchanged views on the evolving security situation in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean Region.
Singh emphasised the need for deeper engagement in defence technology and joint armament production, highlighting India’s efforts to build a robust domestic defence ecosystem. He noted that New Delhi has undertaken significant policy reforms to promote innovation and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Delivering the keynote address at the India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable, the Defence Secretary outlined the transformative changes in India’s defence sector. He said recent reforms had created a more transparent and business-friendly environment, boosting confidence among domestic and foreign partners alike.
The visit also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Italy’s Federation of Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD). The agreement is expected to strengthen industrial cooperation and foster closer business-to-business ties between defence companies in both countries.
Singh was accompanied by a high-level Indian delegation, including senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and representatives from SIDM, further reinforcing India’s commitment to expanding defence collaboration with Italy.
