BENGALURU: Defence minister Rajnath Singh held a series of bilateral meetings with defence ministers of Tanzania, Zambia, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Ethiopia, Gambia, and Gabon during the first three days of Aero India 2025, aside from holding the defence ministers’ conclave.
Zimbabwe defence minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri and Singh reviewed existing bilateral defence cooperation and discussed avenues for further collaboration in areas such as military training, courses, and capacity building for the Zimbabwean armed forces. They signed an MoU on defence cooperation, expressing confidence that it would strengthen ties.
During his meeting with Ethiopia’s defence minister, Aisha Mohammed, both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral relations.
The leaders signed an MoU to formalise the ongoing collaboration, with a focus on military training, peacekeeping, and capacity building for the Ethiopian Armed Forces.
They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in defence industry initiatives, particularly India’s emerging private sector, while Singh’s talks with Yemen defence minister, Lt Gen Mohsen Mohammed Hussein Al Daeri, saw discussions furthering defence engagements, particularly in military training, courses, and capacity building.
‘Nothing Less Than Best’
In a declaration that signals India’s rise in global defence manufacturing, Singh announced at the valedictory that the country is “going through a revolutionary phase of transformation” towards becoming a world leader in defence innovation and aerospace technology.
“Nothing less than the best can be allowed when it comes to national security,” Singh said, underscoring the nation’s commitment to excellence in defence manufacturing. From importing nearly 70% of its defence equipment a decade ago, India now manufactures the same percentage domestically – a seismic shift that has caught global attention, Singh said.
His call for private industry to “take a lead in the defence manufacturing sector” signals a new chapter in India’s defence industrialisation, supported by policy reforms and initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence and the Technology Development Fund.