Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a three-day official visit to Germany from April 21–23, aimed at deepening defence cooperation and expanding strategic engagement between New Delhi and Berlin, with a strong focus on emerging technologies and industrial collaboration.
The visit—his first to Germany in this capacity—comes after a gap of seven years since the last such trip by an Indian defence minister, when Nirmala Sitharaman travelled to Berlin in February 2019.
High-Level Talks to Focus on Defence Industry and Emerging Technologies
During the visit, Minister Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, along with other senior government officials. The discussions are expected to centre on strengthening defence industrial collaboration, enhancing military-to-military engagements, and exploring cooperation in emerging domains such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and drone technologies.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of Defence said the visit will serve as an opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and identify new areas of collaboration between the defence industries of both countries. “Discussions will focus on enhancing defence industrial collaboration, strengthening military-to-military engagements, and exploring opportunities in emerging domains such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, and drones,” the defence ministry said.
The ministry further indicated that key agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.
“A defence industrial cooperation roadmap and implementing arrangement for cooperation in UN Peacekeeping operations training are likely to be signed in the presence of both the defence ministers,” the statement added.
Mega Submarine Deal Under Consideration
A major highlight of the visit could be the potential signing of a long-awaited deal for six advanced conventional submarines under Project 75I for the Indian Navy. The deal, estimated to be worth between ₹70,000 crore and ₹99,000 crore, is expected to involve Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in collaboration with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
If finalised, the project is set to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s underwater capabilities and boost indigenous defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Industry Engagement and ‘Make in India’ Push
Minister Singh is also expected to meet representatives of leading German defence companies during his visit, with the aim of promoting joint development, co-production, and technology transfer.
Officials said the discussions are geared towards strengthening industry-level collaboration and accelerating advanced defence manufacturing partnerships between the two countries.
Broader Strategic Context and Recent Diplomatic Engagements
India and Germany share a long-standing strategic partnership rooted in democratic values and a rules-based international order. Defence cooperation has increasingly emerged as a key pillar of bilateral ties in recent years.
The visit follows recent Foreign Office Consultations held in Berlin, co-chaired by Vikram Misri and Géza Andreas von Geyr. The consultations reviewed cooperation across sectors including trade, defence, digital governance, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and innovation, while also addressing regional and global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and developments in West Asia.
During his visit, Minister Misri also met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and engaged with policymakers and experts to further strengthen bilateral engagement.
Both countries recently marked 75 years of diplomatic relations, reaffirming their commitment to deepening the strategic partnership.
Towards Deeper Defence and Technology Collaboration
Officials said Minister Singh’s upcoming visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into India–Germany defence ties, particularly in high-technology areas and joint manufacturing.
With agreements on industrial cooperation and peacekeeping training on the table, alongside potential big-ticket defence deals, the visit is being seen as a significant step toward advancing bilateral collaboration in defence, innovation, and global security.
