India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have vowed to significantly scale up their military-to-military ties and defence industry cooperation, describing their relationship as a crucial pillar for stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The commitment was reinforced during high-level bilateral talks held on Wednesday between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul.
The strategic meeting comes on the heels of a successful state visit to India by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung last month.
Both ministers noted that the "Joint Vision Statement" outlined by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lee Jae-myung has provided a fresh blueprint for the future.
"Our Special Strategic Partnership has made significant progress in recent years," Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during his opening remarks.
"This meeting, coming within a month of the Presidential visit, reflects the growing strength of our Special Strategic Partnership. I am confident that our relations are fully poised to reach new heights."
South Korean Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back echoed these sentiments, marking Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's return to Seoul—his first since addressing the Seoul Defence Dialogue in 2019—as a pivotal moment.
Minister Ahn Gyu-back noted that the two countries have elevated their relationship into a special strategic partnership since 2015, comprehensively cooperating in developing various fields, and added that the newly agreed-upon foreign and defence ministerial dialogues would further solidify strategic communication.
The discussions covered the full spectrum of India-ROK defence relations, with a sharp focus on translating diplomatic goodwill into actionable outcomes.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the creation of a dedicated India-Korea Task Force by the South Korean government, assuring India's full support to fast-track joint initiatives.
Both sides emphasised deeper cooperation in safeguarding critical sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region.
Furthermore, the ministers explored avenues for increased joint military exercises, high-level military dialogues, and institutionalised engagements throughout the year.
The delegation-level talks concluded with both leaders reaffirming their shared commitment to regional stability.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Seoul on Tuesday following a successful transit from Vietnam.
Upon arrival, he was received by the Ambassador of India to the ROK, Gourangalal Das, alongside senior military and government officials.
"Going forward, my intention is to take today's discussions towards more meaningful and concrete outcomes," Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated, signalling a busy year ahead for Indo-Pacific diplomacy.
Source: ANI
