Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set for an important diplomatic mission scheduled for the upcoming week, which will see him traveling to Italy and France. The primary objective of the visits to these countries is to strengthen India’s strategic partnerships with these nations. This diplomatic visit holds great promise, with several key agreements expected to be formalized during his visit.

India & Italy

Of particular importance is the visit to Italy, where both India and Italy have recently elevated their bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The significance of this elevation was underscored by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s dual visits to Delhi earlier this year, which served to further solidify the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

In March, Meloni embarked on a bilateral visit to India, followed by her participation in the G20 summit in September. The March visit saw both nations reaching a consensus to enhance their collaboration in the field of defense. It is worth noting that in 2021, India lifted a ban that had been imposed on the Italian defense company Leonardo SpA (formerly known as Finmeccanica) and its subsidiary AgustaWestland. These companies had faced allegations related to bribery in securing a US$48 million contract for the supply of 12 helicopters to India.

India & France

On the other hand, France has been a longstanding and well-established defense partner of India. France played a pivotal role in delivering the 36 Rafale fighter jets that India had ordered, a testament to the strong defense relationship between the two countries.

This relationship reached new heights when both India and France agreed to jointly develop a combat aircraft engine during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris earlier this year. Financial Express Online has reported earlier that this collaborative effort extends to other domains as well, exemplified by the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) program. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and France’s Safran Helicopter Engine entered into an agreement that solidifies their partnership.

A cornerstone of this defense-industrial partnership has been the emphasis on technology transfer. A notable example of this commitment is the contract between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the transfer of technology related to the Shakti Engine. This demonstrates France’s dedication to supporting technology transfer and aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative.

Moreover, both India and France have expressed their intent to explore additional projects aimed at augmenting the capabilities of India’s submarine fleet. The 2006 P-75 Scorpene Project laid the foundation for this significant collaboration, focusing on the construction of six submarines with technology transfer, taking place at the Mazagaon Docks Ltd. This partnership reached a significant milestone with the commissioning of the first submarine, INS Kalvari, in October 2017.

As Rajnath Singh embarks on this diplomatic mission to Italy and France, the chief objective remains the further enhancement of defense ties, fostering technology transfer, and bolstering cooperation across various facets of defense manufacturing. Furthermore, it is imperative to acknowledge the profound historical connections shared by both countries, stemming from the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers during the tumultuous years of the World Wars.

Enduring monuments and memorials in Italy’s Cassino and France’s Neuve-Chapelle serve as poignant and everlasting tributes to the valor and dedication of these Indian soldiers, highlighting their invaluable contributions. This diplomatic mission is poised to deepen these historical bonds while forging new paths of collaboration in the modern era.