Rajnath Singh invites German defence industry to co-create under Aatmanirbhar Bharat
New Delhi, April 22
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stressed that India, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in the defence sector, and increased partnerships with the German industry can yield significant mutual gains.
Making a strong pitch for enhanced collaborations between the defence industrial ecosystems of India and Germany, Defence Minister said that 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is not merely a procurement programme; it is an invitation to co-create, co-develop, and co-innovate.
Addressing the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security, Rajnath Singh asserted that the world today is faced with new security threats, and the technological transformation has made the situation highly complex and intricately connected.
"A new approach with the willingness to adapt to the changing environment is the need of the hour," he said.
"We recognise the established strengths of Germany's leading industrial enterprises, while also admiring the vigour and dynamism of the renowned German Mittelstand (small and medium-sized companies) in advanced and emerging technologies," he noted.
In India too, "our start-ups and enterprising private companies are rapidly enhancing and complementing the capabilities of our larger and established defence enterprises. This is an area where India and Germany naturally complement each other, and our partnership can deepen further," said Rajnath Singh.
To deal with modern-day global challenges, Rajnath Singh underscored the need for coordinated responses and trusted strategic partnerships.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have placed strong emphasis on advancing this strategic partnership. We also see a clear convergence of views at the European Union level, reflected in the growing momentum to engage with India, including through the India-EU Defence and Strategic Partnership," he stressed.
India and Germany are not only strategic partners, but also consequential voices in shaping the global discourse of the present times.
"We are established democracies bound by shared values, and dynamic economies driven by resilience, innovation, and a determined industrial spirit. When the chronicles of this era are penned, the India-Germany partnership will stand as a paragon of diplomacy, crafted not in response to crisis, but through the steady resolve of two mature democracies choosing to walk this path together," he stated.
Upon his arrival, Rajnath Singh was welcomed at the Berlin Airport with military honours. He was flown in a Special German Air Force aircraft, escorted by fighter jets, during his flight from Munich to Berlin.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting development. As someone working in tech, the focus on co-creation with SMEs and start-ups is key. It's not just about buying equipment anymore, but building knowledge and capacity together. Hope this leads to tangible projects soon.
Good move, but the proof will be in the pudding. We've had many MoUs and partnerships announced. We need to see actual technology transfer and joint production lines set up in India, creating jobs here. The 'Mittelstand' model could be great for our MSMEs.
Strategic autonomy in defence is crucial for a nation like India. Partnering with a reliable country like Germany, known for quality and precision, makes perfect sense. This is about securing our future, not just buying weapons.
While the intent is good, I hope we don't end up in a situation where it's still largely German tech with just some assembly here. True co-creation means Indian engineers and scientists are at the design table from day one. That's the real test of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The emphasis on shared democratic values is important in today's geopolitical climate. A strong India-Germany axis can contribute to a more stable global order. The fighter jet escort detail shows the level of respect.
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