Defence Secretary discusses strengthening ties with Defence Ministers of Singapore, New Zealand
Singapore, May 31
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, with discussions focussed on strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing maritime cooperation, advancing information-sharing mechanisms.
Sharing details regarding the meeting, the Ministry of Defence stated, "The engagements focused on strengthening bilateral defence ties, enhancing maritime cooperation, advancing information-sharing mechanisms, and reaffirming a shared commitment to a secure, stable and inclusive Indo-Pacific."
The Shangri-La Dialogue, being held in Singapore, features plenary debates led by government ministers and important opportunities for bilateral discussions among delegations.
On Saturday, Rajesh Kumar Singh met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana reception hosted on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, with talks focused on further strengthening bilateral strategic ties and advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence.
Singh also met Sweden's State Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Peter Sandwall, discussing avenues to strengthen defence cooperation and expand collaboration in areas including technology and innovation between the two nations.
"Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with State Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Sweden Peter Sandwall. Discussions focused on strengthening India-Sweden defence engagement and exploring opportunities for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation, including in the domain of defence technology and innovation," the Ministry of Defence said.
Singh held talks with the Netherlands' Chief of Defence General Onno Eichelsheim, where the two sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral defence ties, including military exchange programmes and joint training events.
Rajesh Kumar Singh also interacted with Belen Martinez Carbonell, Secretary General of the European External Action Service, and Lieutenant General Enrico Barduani, Deputy Chair of the European Union Military Committee (DCEUMC).
According to the Defence Ministry, the meeting advanced strategic dialogue between India and the European Union, with discussions centred on shared security interests and avenues for deepening defence and strategic cooperation.
Continuing his bilateral engagement, Singh also held talks with Netherland's Defence Minister, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, exploring ways to deepen military cooperation and expand collaboration in the defence industrial sector, underscoring the evolving strategic partnership between the two countries
Sharing the details of the meeting on X, Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, posted: "Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with Defence Minister, Netherlands Dilan Yeşilgoz-Zegerius. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral Defence cooperation, strengthening military-to-military ties, and exploring opportunities for defence industrial collaboration, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between India and the Netherlands."
Singh also met with his Australian counterpart, Meghan Quinn, where the two sides reviewed the progress of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed upcoming high-level engagements. Both sides also explored opportunities to enhance defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
"Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held bilateral discussions with Australian Defence Secretary Ms Meghan Quinn. Both sides reviewed the progress of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, discussed forthcoming high-level engagements, and explored avenues to further strengthen defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest," Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, posted on X.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive diplomatic outreach! But I hope these discussions lead to concrete outcomes like joint exercises and technology transfers, not just photo ops. The Netherlands and Sweden have advanced defence tech we could learn from. Need more substance in these partnerships.
This is exactly the kind of proactive diplomacy India needs. The Indo-Pacific is our backyard, and building trust with key players like Australia and Singapore is crucial. Defence Secretary Singh seems to be doing a commendable job. Jai Hind! 🙏
Good to see India engaging with European nations too. EU cooperation on security is an underrated aspect of our foreign policy. But I wonder if we're spreading ourselves too thin? Should focus on a few core partnerships instead of meeting everyone at once.
The maritime cooperation angle with New Zealand and Singapore is key! With China's assertiveness in the Indian Ocean, we need all the friends we can get. Hope these talks lead to more joint naval patrols and information sharing. Security is better when we work together. 🌊
While this sounds good, I hope our government is also investing in indigenous defence manufacturing. Relying too much on foreign partnerships for technology can make us dependent. But yes, diplomatic efforts like these are important for strategic alignment. Balance is key.
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