India to deepen defence engagements with friendly African nations: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh signalled India’s readiness to take defence engagements with friendly African countries to the next level, stressing on cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism.
Addressing the India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave at the ongoing DefExpo 20202 in Lucknow on Thursday, Singh said that India would continue to intensify and deepen engagements.

“It will be a partnership guided by your priorities, more specifically on defence cooperation. These include strengthening cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism, keeping our cyberspace safe and secure and supporting the UN in advancing and keeping peace,” the Indian defence minister said.
Defence ministers of 38 countries participated in the India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave held on Thursday.
It is the first time that African nations held a separate conclave in the DefExpo.

Singh said that New Delhi looked forward to deeper cooperation in the domain of defence industry through investment, joint ventures in defence equipment, software, digital defence, research and development, provisioning of defence equipment, spares and their maintenance.

The defence minister said that rapid strides made by Indian defence industry, both public and private, and defence research and development (R&D) had opened up new vistas for cooperation to take our engagement to the next level.
“Indian defence manufacturing companies are now partnering with some of the leading names in the business and are part of their global supply chains,” he said.

Singh added, “India is geared up to provide offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), fast interceptor boats, body and vehicle armour, night vision goggles (NVGs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Dornier aircraft and arms and ammunition to our African counterparts.”

The defence minister also offered to share India’s experience in implementing initiatives like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and Make-II procurement procedure, for small, innovative solutions to a plethora of defence needs and challenges faced by African countries.

Singh stressed that India’s partnership with African countries was an open partnership with all possibilities and avenues for collaboration to choose from and decide as per their priorities.

Reiterating that the guiding principles given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s engagement with Africa had deepened economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours, Singh said, “Maritime security in the region is a matter of common interest for both India and Africa, which is highlighted by the government’s emphasis on SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) for Indo-Pacific region.”

Singh said that India’s security relations with African nations had centred around providing training to African service personnel, participation in United Nations peacekeeping efforts on the continent and also maritime cooperation.

The defence minister stressed the importance of safe and secure seas which were a pre-requisite for development of blue economy in the region. He said that India recognised common security challenges in the form of transnational crimes of piracy, trafficking of drugs, arms and humans and illegal fishing.

“In the light of these challenges there was a call for stronger partnerships for capacity building, information sharing and surveillance. India’s increased engagement in the region has enabled it to be the first responders in providing humanitarian assistance in crisis like Cyclone Idai in Mozambique and more recently, Cyclone Diane in Madagascar,” he said.

The conclave adopted India -Africa Declaration on Defence Cooperation.
Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Naik, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and officials of the Defence and External Affairs ministries were present on the occasion.