Berlin

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday held delegation-level talks with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, with discussions centred on deepening defence cooperation between India and Germany.

The meeting forms part of Singh’s three-day official visit to Germany from April 21 to 23, aimed at further advancing the strategic defence partnership between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the talks covered a broad range of areas, including strengthening defence industrial collaboration, expanding military-to-military engagement, and exploring cooperation in emerging fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and drone technologies.

As part of the visit, the two ministers also exchanged gifts, symbolising the growing depth of bilateral ties.

Earlier in the day, Singh was accorded a ceremonial welcome by his German counterpart and received military honours at the Ministry of Defence. He also paid tribute to fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the Bundeswehr Memorial (Ehrenmal der Bundeswehr), marking the formal commencement of his official engagements.

Prior to this, the Defence Minister interacted with the Indian diaspora in Berlin and addressed Germany’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security. During his address, he highlighted India’s balanced diplomatic approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in the context of ongoing global conflicts, including developments in West Asia.

Singh indicated that India remains open to playing a constructive role in promoting peace, noting that the country continues to engage diplomatically with all sides while advocating dialogue and de-escalation.

He also drew attention to India’s efforts to ensure maritime stability, stating that diplomatic outreach has helped facilitate the safe passage of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Describing the Indian diaspora in Germany as a “living bridge,” Singh commended their contributions to the host country while also highlighting India’s progress in areas such as infrastructure, startups, space and digital innovation.

During his interaction with the parliamentary panel, Singh reiterated India’s concerns regarding energy security, stressing that any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has immediate implications for the country’s economy and national security, given its dependence on energy imports from the West Asian region.

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The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral defence ties, with both sides focusing on enhancing industrial cooperation, leveraging new technologies and expanding military collaboration.