News articles and essays on the Indian diplomacy at work around the world.
According to the official release, the exercise is designed to improve interoperability, cohesion, and the exchange of best practices between the two navies. The visit began with a ceremonial welcome by the Sri Lanka Navy, and Commander Sailesh Tyagi, Commanding Officer of INS Nireekshak, also met Rear Admiral SJ Kumara, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Area, to discuss matters of mutual interest.
A major outcome of the meeting was the signing and exchange of two key documents: a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training. The Indian side described the visit as a sign of growing trust and momentum in the bilateral relationship, which has gathered pace in recent years.
During the trip, General Chauhan held talks with Luke Pollard, where discussions centred on the changing nature of global conflict and the need for closer military collaboration. Senior officials from both sides participated, reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening bilateral defence ties.
At the same time, India renewed its call for long-pending UNSC reforms during Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN), pointing out that the current composition—especially in terms of permanent membership—fails to represent developing nations. It advocated for greater inclusion of the Global South and noted alignment between its position and the African model for reform.
Rajnath Singh praised Germany’s strong industrial base and its “Mittelstand” ecosystem, while also pointing to India’s growing network of startups and private enterprises that are strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.
India outlined its long-term maritime vision under “Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047,” emphasizing major opportunities for Korean participation. These include developing large greenfield shipbuilding clusters, supported by government incentives and financing schemes. Korea expressed interest in contributing through its advanced expertise in ship design, manufacturing, and operations.
India and South Korea signed 15 agreements and memorandums aimed at boosting trade, investment, and sectoral collaboration, including in shipbuilding and artificial intelligence.
The report said Doval’s meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman focused on enhancing cooperation in the energy sector and supporting the stability of global supplies. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen energy security and maintain reliable oil flows at a time of regional uncertainty.
The agreement is being seen as a significant breakthrough because it revives a trade process that first began in 2010 but lost momentum and stalled in 2015. Negotiations were relaunched in March 2025 during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India, and the deal was pushed through five formal rounds of talks in less than a year
The visit will provide an opportunity to review the ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and identify new avenues for collaboration between the defence industries of both countries. Shri Rajnath Singh is also expected to interact with key representatives of the German defence industry, with a view to promoting joint development and co-production under the Make-in-India initiative.
