Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Delhi on Thursday for detailed discussions on defence cooperation and key regional and global issues, including the current situation in West Asia. Singh said he was happy to welcome Crosetto and held extensive talks covering a wide range of strategic topics. He noted that both sides discussed ways to strengthen defence industrial cooperation under India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative as well as Italy’s defence collaboration framework. The two ministers also exchanged a Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan (MCP) for 2026–27, aimed at enhancing military engagement between the armed forces of both countries.

Italian Defence Minister paid tribute at the National War Memorial in Delhi and reviewed the Guard of Honour. His first official visit to India highlights the growing intent of both nations to deepen their defence partnership and explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in defence production and industry.

The India–Italy defence relationship has steadily expanded over the years, including areas such as joint training, service-to-service exchanges, naval cooperation, port calls, maritime security, and defence equipment trade. Both countries had earlier signed a Defence Cooperation agreement in 2023, which provided a structured framework for strengthening bilateral defence ties.

This visit also comes amid broader developments in India’s engagement with the European Union. Earlier in 2026, India and the EU signed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership, marking a significant step in institutionalising cooperation between the two sides. The agreement aims to deepen collaboration in areas such as maritime security, cyber and hybrid threats, space security, counterterrorism, and defence technology.

During the recent India–EU Summit, leaders from both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding strategic cooperation. They welcomed the new partnership, which is expected to further enhance coordination on regional and global security challenges while opening new opportunities for defence and industrial collaboration.