Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius here on Tuesday discussed challenges resulting from China’s growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific and other regions of the world. The two Defence Ministers also discussed various security issues in the region during which the issues related to Pakistan and Afghanistan including growing terror activities in the region also figured, diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen defence and strategic cooperation between India and Germany.
“The two ministers explored ways to boost strategic ties to tackle the challenges being posed by China’s aggressive behaviour in various geographies, and deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan (Af-Pak) region,” sources said. Rajnath Sing and Pistorius reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities. They also discussed ways to boost defence industrial partnership.
Sharing details regarding his meeting with Boris Pistorius, Rajnath Singh in a tweet stated, “Had fruitful discussions with the German Defence Minister, Mr Boris Pistorius. His passion for Yoga is commendable. We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation between India & Germany.”
Pistorius, who is on a four-day visit to India, was accorded a Guard of Honour at Manekshaw Centre in the presence of Rajnath Singh in Delhi. He also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in the national capital. On June 7, the German Federal Minister of Defence will visit Mumbai where he is likely to visit Western Naval Command Headquarters and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
Ahead of his visit to India, the German Defence Minister said India’s continuing dependence on Russian weapons is not in Germany’s interest, German news agency Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. “It is not up to Germany to change that on our own,” Pistorius said in an exclusive interview with DW’s top political correspondent Nina Haase in Jakarta. Pistorius was in Jakarta ahead of his four-day visit to India.
“This is an issue we have to solve jointly with other partners. But of course, we can’t have an interest in the long run that India is so dependent on Russia’s delivery of weapons or other materials,” he added. According to official information, Rajnath Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.