India, Germany Sign Defence Cooperation Roadmap During Rajnath Singh’s Berlin Talks

India and Germany moved to deepen defence ties on Wednesday as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks in Berlin with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, focusing on strategic cooperation, military engagement, and joint opportunities in advanced defence production. The discussions covered bilateral security issues as well as priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, particularly in niche technologies.

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.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen military-to-military cooperation, treating it as an important pillar of the wider India-Germany strategic partnership. Rajnath Singh said the recently launched India-EU Security and Defence Partnership offers an added framework through which New Delhi and Berlin can work together more closely, both bilaterally and in the broader European context, to improve regional stability and build joint capabilities.

On the security front, Singh underlined the need for a firm international stand against terrorism, saying it must be condemned in all forms and without justification. The German side, meanwhile, welcomed the growing institutionalisation of service-level staff talks and future bilateral military exercises. Singh also said India is looking forward to the German Air Force’s participation in Ex-TARANG SHAKTI, scheduled to be held in India in September-October 2026.

The visit also carried ceremonial and symbolic elements. Rajnath Singh was given a Guard of Honour at the German Ministry of Defence and later laid a wreath at the Bundeswehr Memorial, which honours German military personnel killed in the line of duty.

The meeting comes in a landmark year for bilateral relations. India and Germany are marking 25 years of Strategic Partnership and 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, with ties now spanning defence, trade, technology, green energy, education, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.