Key Takeaways
- India urged Italy to avoid sharing defense technology with Pakistan during high-level talks.
- The two nations are exploring joint production of advanced weapon systems and cooperation under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- India and Italy are planning future military engagements, including a new Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan.
Defence Technology Discussions
New Delhi: In a recent meeting, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto discussed enhancing defense industrial cooperation. India made it clear that any co-development of next-generation weapon systems must exclude Pakistan, citing its support for terrorism as a key concern.
The dialogue included conversations on regional and global issues, particularly troubling situations in West Asia. India highlighted its reservations regarding past instances of Italian defense supplies to Pakistan, which included naval components, helicopters, drones, and surface-to-air missiles.
Italy’s leading defense firm, Leonardo, has been under scrutiny by the Indian defense ministry following the VVIP helicopter scandal, which led to restrictions that lasted nearly a decade. These restrictions have since been lifted, allowing Leonardo to pursue major contracts, particularly in collaboration with Adani Defence and Aerospace on naval helicopters.
Additionally, Italy expressed interest in supplying trainer aircraft, advanced naval guns, and torpedoes. Discussions included India’s recent acquisition of heavyweight torpedoes from WASS and the potential establishment of a local production line through technology transfer arrangements.
Singh emphasized the importance of mutual defense industrial cooperation, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative and Italy’s own defense cooperation strategies. Following the meeting, Singh shared insights on the cooperative discussions via a post on X.
Alongside Minister Crosetto, an Italian defense industry delegation engaged with Indian stakeholders, including representatives from the Indian Coast Guard. As part of the collaborative effort, both nations introduced a new Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (MCP) for 2026-27, setting the framework for future military engagements.
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