Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Meets European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas; Chiefs of All Three Services Present

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Kaja Kallas, High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, at the Ministry of Defence in South Block on Tuesday to discuss strengthening security and defence cooperation between India and the European Union (EU). The meeting included the heads of India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force, highlighting its strategic significance.

Shared Values as the Basis of Partnership
Speaking after the meeting, Rajnath Singh emphasized that India and the EU share core values such as democracy, pluralism, and rule of law, which form the foundation of their increasingly robust partnership. He said India aims to translate these shared values into practical cooperation for global stability, sustainable development, and inclusive prosperity.

Focus on Defence Collaboration
The discussions focused on building a reliable defence ecosystem, integrating supply chains, and developing future-ready defence capabilities. Defence experts note that there is immense potential for India-EU cooperation in the defence sector, which could further strengthen global security and strategic stability.

Participation of Armed Forces Leadership
The meeting saw the participation of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan (CDS).

Supporting ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’
Rajnath Singh highlighted that coordinated efforts between Indian and EU defence industries would support India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative while aligning with the EU’s strategic autonomy goals.

EU Acknowledges India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific
Kaja Kallas expressed gratitude for being India’s chief guest at the 77th Republic Day celebrations, calling the EU’s presence at the Kartavya Path parade “a matter of pride.” She emphasized that India and the EU should collaborate in the Indo-Pacific region and learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises and operational cooperation.

EU Liaison Officer for the Indian Navy
Rajnath Singh welcomed the EU proposal to appoint a liaison officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre–Indo-Pacific (IFC-IPR) in Gurugram, noting that this will enhance operational coordination in anti-piracy campaigns and assess emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific region.