###India–South Korea Defence Partnership Enters New Era

Seoul/Udaipur Desk: In a major step towards strengthening strategic and defence ties in the Indo-Pacific region, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held high-level bilateral talks with South Korea’s Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, marking a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the two nations.

The comprehensive discussions focused on expanding cooperation in defence production, military exchanges, maritime security, emerging technologies, logistics support, and regional stability. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment towards maintaining a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, reflecting a growing convergence between India’s “Act East Policy” and South Korea’s regional strategic vision.

In a major diplomatic and strategic achievement, India and South Korea signed multiple agreements to deepen defence collaboration in critical sectors including Defence Cyber Cooperation, military training exchanges between India’s National Defence College and Korea National Defence University, and cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. These agreements are expected to make the bilateral partnership more dynamic and multidimensional.

Rajnath Singh also met South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration Minister Lee Yong-chul, where both sides discussed opportunities for joint development, joint production, and joint exports of advanced defence systems. Discussions were also held on expanding the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X), aimed at integrating the innovation ecosystems of both nations.

Addressing the India–Republic of Korea Defence Industry Business RoundTable, Rajnath Singh strongly advocated for deeper industrial collaboration and invited Korean companies to actively participate in India’s rapidly growing defence manufacturing ecosystem under the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat.” He highlighted India’s transformation into a global defence manufacturing hub backed by innovation, talent, and large-scale production capabilities.

Emphasising the importance of trusted partnerships in the changing global order, the Defence Minister said that Korea’s technological excellence combined with India’s manufacturing scale and innovation potential could create a powerful alliance for developing next-generation defence technologies. He noted that modern warfare and security systems are increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, cyber technologies, autonomous systems, semiconductors, advanced electronics, quantum technologies, and space-based capabilities.

Highlighting India’s vibrant start-up and innovation ecosystem, Rajnath Singh stated that young Indian entrepreneurs are already contributing significantly in advanced sectors such as AI-enabled platforms, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and defence software technologies. He stressed that the future of India–Korea defence cooperation lies in innovation-led partnerships and technology sharing.

During the visit, two agreements were also signed between Larsen & Toubro and South Korean defence company Hanwha, further strengthening industrial cooperation and defence technology collaboration between the two countries.

Interacting with the Indian diaspora in South Korea, Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s rising global stature and described the country’s evolving security doctrine as “assertive, bold, consistent and decisive.” Referring to “Operation Sindoor,” he said India would not tolerate terrorism or any form of nuclear blackmail, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to its “No First Use” nuclear policy.

The Defence Minister also underlined India’s remarkable achievements in defence manufacturing, revealing that India recorded defence production worth approximately ₹1.54 lakh crore and defence exports nearing ₹40,000 crore during the financial year 2025–26. He expressed confidence that defence exports would cross ₹50,000 crore within the next two years.

Rajnath Singh began his South Korea visit by paying tribute to soldiers at the Korean War Cemetery in Seoul, honouring their sacrifice and expressing solidarity with the people of South Korea.