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Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Visits Italy to Boost India-Italy Defence Ties.

International | Dated: 18 Apr 2025

Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), visited Rome, Italy from April 14 to 15, 2025, to advance the strategic partnership between India and Italy in the defence sector. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral collaboration in defence, maritime security, and industrial cooperation.

🎯 Key Highlights:

- The visit commenced with a high-level meeting between Rajesh Kumar Singh and Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. Both sides discussed deepening defence cooperation as a key component of their strategic relationship.
- A Business-to-Business (B2B) session was also conducted, featuring participation from senior leadership and industry stakeholders from both countries to explore avenues for joint ventures and technological collaboration.
- During his visit to Rome, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), co-chaired the 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting along with Luisa Riccardi, Secretary General of Defence, Republic of Italy. The meeting aimed at enhancing strategic cooperation between both nations in key defence areas.

💡 Other Important Facts:

(i) The JDC meeting highlighted crucial topics such as strengthening maritime security and improving information-sharing under the Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN). Both sides also addressed regional security challenges in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean Region (WIOR), and discussed deeper collaboration in defence technology, armament production, and industrial tie-ups.
(ii) Rajesh Kumar Singh also participated in the India-Italy Defence Industry Roundtable held in Italy. This event served as a platform for key stakeholders from both countries to explore industrial partnerships and collaborative opportunities in the defence manufacturing sector.
(iii) A key outcome of the roundtable was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), based in New Delhi, and the Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD), based in Rome. The MoU aims to boost cooperation in defence R&D, facilitate technology transfer, encourage joint production, and promote Business-to-Business (B2B) collaborations between Indian and Italian industries.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who co-chaired the 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting along with Rajesh Kumar Singh?

Correct Answer: Luisa Riccardi

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Italy

President : Sergio Mattarella
Prime Minister (PM): Giorgia Meloni