India and South Korea have signed multiple MoUs to deepen defence cooperation, covering cyber defence, military training, and UN peacekeeping collaboration, during talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul.
Both leaders reviewed the full scope of bilateral defence ties and discussed expanding cooperation in defence industry, maritime security, emerging technologies, logistics, military exchanges, and regional security. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to a free, open and rules based Indo Pacific, aligning India’s Act East Policy with South Korea’s regional vision.
During the visit, Singh also met Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program chief Lee Yong-chul, with both sides agreeing to explore joint development, joint production and joint export opportunities in defence manufacturing. Discussions also focused on creating a Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem to connect the innovation strengths of both countries.
Singh chaired a business roundtable involving defence industry leaders from India and South Korea, where opportunities in co development, manufacturing partnerships and supply chain integration were explored. He invited Korean companies to work closely with Indian industry and benefit from India’s growing defence manufacturing base and policy support for indigenous production.
He highlighted that India’s scale, talent and manufacturing ecosystem combined with Korea’s technological strength could create strong long term partnerships in advanced defence systems. He also stressed that future warfare technologies will rely heavily on artificial intelligence, cyber systems, semiconductors, sensors, autonomous platforms and space based capabilities, areas where both countries can collaborate closely.
Two agreements were also signed between L&T and Hanwha Co Ltd to boost industry level cooperation, technology sharing and capacity building in the defence sector.
Singh reiterated India’s push for self reliance in defence manufacturing, noting record production and export figures and projecting further growth in the coming years. He also referred to Operation Sindoor, stating that India remains firm against terrorism and will not tolerate nuclear blackmail while maintaining its No First Use policy.
