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India and Germany on Wednesday signed a new Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, agreeing to deepen collaboration in co-development, co-production, and niche technologies.
The agreements were signed during delegation-level talks in Berlin, part of Singh’s three-day visit to Germany aimed at giving fresh momentum to the bilateral strategic partnership. Alongside the roadmap, the two sides also exchanged an implementing arrangement on cooperation in UN peacekeeping training.
Officials said the discussions focused on identifying priority areas where industry on both sides can work together, particularly in advanced and emerging technologies. The ministers also underlined the need to expand military-to-military engagement, describing it as a central pillar of the partnership.
Singh called the visit a reflection of “deep friendship, synergy and trust,” noting that defence ties have gathered pace in recent years. Both sides agreed to leverage the broader India-EU security framework to translate political intent into concrete outcomes, including capability building and regional stability.
India also invited the German Air Force to participate in the next edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti, scheduled for India later this year in September/October, to boost operational cooperation.
The visit comes against the backdrop of growing India-Europe defence engagement, with New Delhi seeking to diversify partnerships and strengthen domestic manufacturing through joint ventures.
Veiled swipe at Pakistan
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Berlin, Singh struck a sharp note on regional security, delivering a thinly veiled warning to Pakistan without naming it directly.
“Barring one, all our neighbours are fine,” he said, adding that while India has never been the aggressor, it would respond firmly if provoked.
His remarks coincided with the anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. In its aftermath last year, Indian forces had launched Operation Sindoor, signalling a more assertive posture against cross-border terrorism.
With the new roadmap in place, India and Germany are now looking to move beyond buyer-seller ties to a more collaborative defence industrial partnership, one that aligns with New Delhi’s push for self-reliance while opening avenues for European technology and investment.
Team BharatShakti
