What happened?
India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome (April 14–15) to boost bilateral defence cooperation. The 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee meeting, co-chaired by Singh and Italian Defence Secretary General Luisa Riccardi, focused on maritime collaboration, defence technology, and armament production. Singh also addressed an India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable, highlighting India’s recent defence sector reforms. A key MoU was signed between SIDM and AIAD to deepen industrial cooperation in aerospace and defence.
Why it matters to India
Italy is a key EU partner in India’s strategic push for defence industrialisation. Enhanced defence cooperation, especially in maritime domain awareness and technology co-development, aligns with India’s goal of building domestic defence capabilities. The SIDM-AIAD MoU and policy-level discussions enable joint ventures and tech transfers that bolster ‘Make in India’ in defence. Strengthening naval cooperation also enhances India’s role in the Western Indian Ocean amid Red Sea tensions.