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COVER STORYDefence Industry & Technology

India Defence Minister Meets EU Vice President

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India Defence Minister EU meeting
  • India’s Defence Minister meets the EU Vice President to strengthen bilateral ties and advance defence cooperation.
  • Both sides must work together in Indian Ocean Region & learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises: Ms Kaja Kallas.
  • Indian & EU defence industries must synergise their efforts for larger global good: Shri Rajnath Singh.

New Delhi: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the High Representative/Vice President of European Union (EU) Commission Ms Kaja Kallas in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues during the meeting. Raksha Mantri stated that India and EU share the principles of democracy, pluralism & the rule of law which underpin the steadily deepening partnership. He added that it is these values which India seeks to translate into practical cooperation for global stability, sustainable growth & inclusive prosperity. India’s Defence Minister meets the EU Vice President to strengthen bilateral ties and advance defence cooperation.

Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised that Indian and EU defence industries must synergise their efforts for larger global good. It complements India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat while aligning with the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy. The partnership will become a force multiplier by integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities. He said that India’s defence industry can play a meaningful role in the EU’s ‘ReArm initiative’, especially when EU is seeking to rapidly diversify suppliers and de-risk dependencies. He termed Ms Kallas’ visit to India is special as it comes on the occasion of 77th Republic Day.

Ms. Kaja Kallas expressed gratitude to be a part of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, especially the EU presence in the parade at Kartavya Path. She stated that India and EU must work together in the Indian Ocean Region and learn from each other’s best practices through joint exercises. The Raksha Mantri welcomed EU proposal of positioning a Liaison Officer (LO) at the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram. The EU LO at IFC-IOR would enhance operational coordination with the Indian Navy in counter-piracy and assessment of the threats in the Indian Ocean Region.

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COVER STORYMILITARYNavy

Japan Ship ‘Itsukushima’ Arrives in Chennai

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Japan's 'Itsukushima' ship arrives in Chennai, reinforcing the maritime bond between India and Japan. Dive into the details of this significant visit!

Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Ship Itsukushima, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi, arrived at Chennai Port on July 07, 2025, as part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and JCG in the Indo-Pacific. The week-long port call includes high-level bilateral meetings, joint professional & cultural exchanges, and a sea exercise aimed at boosting interoperability between the two forces.

During the port call, crew members will engage in courtesy calls, reciprocal ship visits, joint training sessions, yoga, and sporting events, culminating in a joint sea exercise ‘Jaa Mata’ (see you later) on July 12, 2025.

As a symbol of growing cooperation, four ICG officers will sail onboard Itsukushima to Singapore as Sea Riders, continuing the tradition of professional exchange. This engagement builds on the 2006 Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan, aligned with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

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