India and the European Union (EU) have reiterated their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, integrating supply chains, and expanding joint engagement in the Indian Ocean Region. These issues were discussed during a meeting between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Kaja Kallas, High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission. The talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing India-EU trade pact, underlining the growing economic and strategic partnership between the two sides.

During the meeting, both leaders stressed the importance of deepening defence ties and enhancing collaboration in areas that can contribute to regional and global stability. Rajnath Singh highlighted that India and the EU share core values such as democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law, which form the foundation of their steadily strengthening relationship. He said that these shared principles should lead to practical cooperation that supports global stability, sustainable growth, and inclusive prosperity.

Singh also emphasised the need to strengthen partnerships with European nations in order to build resilient defence supply chains and promote technology-driven cooperation. He pointed out that closer collaboration between India and the EU could help create trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities. According to him, integrating supply chains would play a crucial role in strengthening defence preparedness and ensuring long-term strategic cooperation.

Highlighting the role of industries, Singh said that Indian and European defence industries should work together for the larger global good. He explained that such cooperation aligns with India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and also supports the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy. He further noted that India’s defence industry could contribute meaningfully to the EU’s “ReArm initiative”, as Europe seeks to diversify its suppliers and reduce dependencies.

Both sides expressed optimism about expanding joint initiatives, signalling a new phase in India-EU strategic and defence engagement. Singh described Kallas’s visit as significant, as it coincided with India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations. He also noted that the celebrations included EU representation at the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path, which reflected the growing closeness between India and the EU.

Kallas, in her remarks, said that India and the EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises. She highlighted the importance of cooperation in maritime security and regional stability. Singh welcomed the EU’s proposal to position a Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram. He said that this step would strengthen operational coordination in counter-piracy efforts and improve threat assessment in the region.

The discussions also underlined the broader potential for economic and strategic collaboration between India and the EU. The meeting reflected a shared understanding that defence cooperation and industrial collaboration are key to building strong and resilient partnerships. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties and expanding cooperation across defence, industry, and regional security.

The talks between Rajnath Singh and Kaja Kallas highlighted the growing importance of India-EU relations in the current global context. By focusing on defence cooperation, supply chain integration, and joint initiatives in the Indian Ocean Region, both sides demonstrated their intention to deepen their partnership and work together towards common goals. The meeting marked another step forward in the evolving strategic relationship between India and the European Union.