India and South Korea Deepen Defense Cooperation With MoUs
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Ahn Gyu-back, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea (RoK), engaged in extensive bilateral talks in Seoul.
As per the Ministry of Defense, the two Ministers assessed the full range of defense cooperation and explored methods to enhance collaboration in domains like industry, production, maritime security, emerging technologies, military exchanges, logistics, and regional security.
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Both parties recognized the increasing alignment between India's Act East Policy and South Korea's regional strategic vision, reaffirming their dedication to enhancing defense relations in accordance with their mutual goals of upholding a free, open, inclusive, and rule-based Indo-Pacific.
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in crucial areas of defense collaboration, showcasing the growing breadth and intensity of the bilateral relationship. Agreements were signed to enhance collaboration in Defence Cyber, training between India’s National Defence College and Korea National Defence University, and UN Peacekeeping Cooperation, thereby strengthening and diversifying the partnership.
Singh additionally met with Lee Yong-chul, the Minister of Defence Acquisition Program Administration of the Republic of Korea, and both leaders concurred on leveraging their collaborative efforts to establish pathways for joint development, joint production, and joint exports.
A strategy to realize the capabilities of the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X) for enhancing the innovation systems of both nations was deliberated.
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Subsequently, Rajnath Singh led the India-RoK Defence Industry Business RoundTable, which assembled high-ranking government officials and prominent defence industry representatives from both nations. The engagement offered a significant avenue for investigating new possibilities in defence manufacturing, joint development, joint production, and supply chain collaborations.
Speaking to business leaders, the Defense Minister emphasized India’s expanding defence industrial landscape and the prospects provided by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government’s efforts to foster domestic defense production and international collaborations. He urged Korean defense firms to enhance their interaction with the Indian industry and aid in creating long-term, mutually advantageous partnerships. He valued the eagerness of Korean and Indian firms to collaboratively take a crucial part in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Singh emphasized that defense manufacturing has expanded beyond traditional platforms and equipment, as contemporary defense ecosystems are driven by sophisticated electronics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, sensors, semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced materials, and capabilities based in space.
He remarked that the future of defense will rely more on the capacity to innovate swiftly and merge technologies across various domains. He remarked that this is exactly where India and RoK have significant opportunities for partnership.
Rajnath Singh emphasized that India has a dynamic innovation ecosystem that includes start-ups, MSMEs, the private sector, academic institutions, research organizations, and government enterprises.
At the event, two agreements were signed between L&T, India, and Hanwa Co Ltd, indicating a bright future for the defense innovation and technology partnership between India and Korea. The agreements aim to strengthen collaboration between the defense sectors of both nations and encourage technology sharing and capacity development.
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While engaging with the Indian diaspora in RoK, the Defense Minister emphasized India's increasing global prominence resulting from remarkable advancements under PM Modi's leadership.
Singh emphasized the Government's dedication to attaining self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing, mentioning that the record-breaking amounts of around Rs 1.54 lakh crore in defense production and about Rs 40,000 crore in defence exports for the Financial Year 2025-26 are outcomes of continuous endeavors. He said that defense exports are expected to hit Rs 50,000 crore in the next 1-2 years, whereas defense production is anticipated to increase to Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the coming months.
Singh commenced his visit to RoK, the last stop of his two-nation tour, by placing a wreath at the Korean War Cemetery in Seoul to honor the courageous soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Korean War. He expressed India's support for the people of RoK and mentioned that their bravery, commitment, and sense of patriotism continue to be a lasting source of inspiration.