India and Italy have agreed to jointly manufacture military equipment in India, as part of a new bilateral defence cooperation push shaped by changing global and regional security dynamics.
The decision followed talks in New Delhi between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who is on an official visit. The two sides reviewed the broader relationship and discussed key security issues.
After the meeting, the two countries released a “Mutual Defence Cooperation Plan” for 2026–27. Under the plan, both sides aim to expand defence industrial collaboration in a way that benefits both countries, aligning with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative and Italy’s defence cooperation efforts.
Rajnath Singh said the discussions also covered global and regional challenges, including the conflict in West Asia. India’s Defence Ministry said the partnership is anchored in peace, stability, freedom and mutual respect.
The two nations, which share a long maritime trading legacy, also reiterated convergence on maritime security. The meeting highlighted the importance of sharing key information through the Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram.
