New Delhi, Apr 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held bilateral talks with Italy, and met his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in New Delhi, reaffirming the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. The meeting, held at the Manekshaw Centre, saw both sides underline that India-Italy ties are anchored in shared values of peace, stability, freedom and mutual respect. According to an official statement, the two leaders discussed a range of regional and global issues, including the evolving situation in West Asia.
They also explored ways to deepen defence industrial cooperation, with a focus on India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and Italy’s defence collaboration framework. During the talks, the two sides exchanged the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026–27, outlining future engagements between their armed forces. Maritime cooperation featured prominently, with both countries highlighting coordination on key issues, including information sharing through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region. Earlier in the day, Crosetto paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial and inspected a Tri-Service Guard of Honour at the venue.
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