India and South Africa Hold 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) Meeting in Johannesburg.

India and South Africa conducted the 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. Senior defence officials from both nations engaged in strategic discussions to boost military collaboration, focusing on policy, acquisitions, and future technologies.

      - The Indian delegation was led by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and included senior representatives from the Department of Defence (DoD), Department of Defence Production (DDP), Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), and the Indian High Commission in South Africa. Their focus was on institutional-level coordination and enhancing joint capabilities.

      - The South African delegation was headed by Thobekile Gamede, Acting Secretary for Defence. South Africa’s participation emphasized expanding defence ties and aligning strategic military goals with India. Discussions centered around emerging threats and mutual security priorities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

      - On 23 June 2025, the opening day, both sides’ co-chairs initiated the session with formal remarks. They outlined a structured agenda and provided direction to two sub-committees: (i) Defence Policy and Military Cooperation and (ii) Defence Acquisition, Production, Research, and Development. These groups were tasked with reporting on operational strategies.

Main Point :-   (i) A major highlight of the second day’s discussions was the mutual agreement on strengthening cooperation in submarine domain technologies. Both sides explored areas such as naval architecture, deep-sea surveillance systems, and interoperability in future joint exercises. These outcomes are aimed at enhancing undersea defence capabilities.

      (ii) The countries also reviewed defence industry opportunities, including Make in India initiatives and defence exports to South Africa. Technology transfer, joint R&D, and personnel exchange programs were proposed to improve military production and sustainability.

(iii) The 9th JDC meeting concluded with a shared vision of promoting regional stability, increasing maritime domain awareness, and enhancing training cooperation. It also reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to multilateral platforms such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and BRICS Defence Ministers’ Dialogues.
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