India pushes for deeper defence ties with Germany

India on Tuesday pitched for a stronger defence industrial partnership with Germany, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urging German lawmakers and industry leaders to co-create, co-develop and co-innovate under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Addressing members of the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security in Berlin, Singh said emerging security threats and rapid technological transformation have made the global environment more complex, calling for coordinated responses, trusted partnerships and adaptability. Singh highlighted that India’s defence sector is undergoing a significant transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and noted that collaboration with Germany’s advanced industrial base, including its Mittelstand firms, could deliver mutual gains.
The Defence Minister pointed to a growing convergence between India and Germany at both bilateral and European levels, citing support from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and momentum within the European Union for deeper engagement with India. He said both countries, as democracies with resilient economies, have a shared role in shaping global discourse. Flagging geopolitical instability, particularly in West Asia, Singh warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz directly impact India’s energy and economic security.
Singh outlined India’s coordinated response mechanism, including a Group of Ministers monitoring the region to ensure energy supplies, control inflation and safeguard citizens. Earlier, Singh paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore at Humboldt University in Berlin, highlighting enduring cultural ties, and was received with military honours on arrival in Germany.