Rajnath in Seoul: Seeks Korean Firms Participation in India, Meets Counterpart to Deepen Defence Ties

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) met with his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul during an official visit to take forward bilateral military cooperation between the two nations, when he sought Korean industries’ participation in the Indian aerospace and defence sector.

Rajnath Singh also met with South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration Minister Lee Yong-chul, when the two leaders agreed to harness the symbiotic efforts to create avenues for joint development, joint production, and joint exports of aerospace and defence products.

During his meeting with Ahn Gyu-back, the Indian Defence Minister held comprehensive bilateral discussions, when they reviewed “entire spectrum” of defence cooperation and discussed ways to further expand the collaboration between India and Republic of Korea (RoK) in areas such as industry, production, emerging technologies, military exchanges, logistics, and regional security.

“Both sides acknowledged the growing convergence between India’s Act East Policy and RoK’s regional strategic vision, reiterating their commitment to strengthening defence ties in line with the shared objectives of maintaining a free, open, inclusive and rule-based Indo-Pacific,” an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement said in New Delhi.

“Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were inked in key areas of defence cooperation, reflecting the expanding scope and depth of the bilateral partnership. Agreements were exchanged on promoting cooperation in the field of Defence Cyber; training between India’s National Defence College and Korea National Defence University; and UN Peacekeeping Cooperation, making the partnership stronger and multidimensional,” the statement said.

In his meeting with Lee Yong-chul, Rajnath Singh discussed with the Korean Minister “a roadmap” to unlock the potential of the India-Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X) “to synergise” the innovation ecosystems of the two countries.

The Indian Defence Minister, later, chaired the India-RoK Defence Industry Business Round Table, which brought together senior government officials and leading defence industry representative from both countries. “The interaction provided an important platform for exploring new opportunities in defence manufacturing, co-development, co-production, and supply chain partnerships,” the Indian read-out of the meeting said.

Addressing the business leaders, Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s growing defence industrial ecosystem and the opportunities available under Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s initiatives aimed at promoting indigenous defence manufacturing and global partnerships.

He invited Korean defence companies to strengthen engagement with the Indian industry and contribute towards long-term mutually beneficial collaboration. He appreciated the enthusiasm of Korean and Indian companies to jointly play a pivotal role in the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

“The success of India-Korea industrial cooperation in the commercial sector demonstrates the enormous potential of long-term trusted partnerships between the two countries. The time has now come to extend this successful model into the defence sector, where technology, innovation, manufacturing capability, and strategic trust are becoming increasingly interconnected,” Rajnath Singh said.

“Korea’s technological excellence, combined with India’s scale, talent, manufacturing ecosystem, and innovation capabilities, creates a powerful foundation for cooperation. Together, our two countries can jointly develop and produce advanced technologies and defence systems for the future,” he said.

“Trusted partnerships between technologically capable nations acquire immense strategic importance. India and RoK are uniquely positioned to work together in this changing global landscape,” he added.

The Indian Defence Minister highlighted that “defence manufacturing is no longer confined only to conventional platforms and equipment, as modern defence ecosystems are powered by advanced electronics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber technologies, sensors, semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced materials, and space-based capabilities.”

He added that the future of defence will increasingly depend upon the ability to innovate rapidly and integrate technologies across multiple domains. This, he stated, was precisely where India and RoK possess enormous potential for collaboration.

Rajnath Singh stressed that India possesses a vibrant innovation ecosystem comprising start-ups, MSMEs, private industry, academia, research institutions, and public sector enterprises. “Young Indian entrepreneurs are increasingly contributing to advanced technology domains including unmanned systems, AI-enabled platforms, cyber security, advanced communications, and defence software systems. The future of India–Korea defence cooperation lies in innovation-led collaboration,” he said.

During the event, two agreements between L&T, India, and Hanwa Co. Ltd. were also signed, signalling a promising future for India-Korea defence innovation and technology partnership, the MoD statement said. “The agreements are expected to facilitate enhanced collaboration between the defence industries of both countries and promote technology cooperation and capacity building,” it said.

Interacting with the Indian diaspora in RoK, Rajnath Singh underscored the rise in India’s global stature due to unprecedented progress under the leadership of PM Modi. “(About) 12-13 years ago, India was perceived as a weak nation, but, today, due to the transformation the country has undergone in the last decade, the world carefully listens to what we have to say. We’re now emerging as a global power that offers solutions to the world. Whether internal or external security, our policy has undergone a fundamental transformation; it has become assertive, bold, consistent, and decisive,” he said.

Rajnath Singh described Operation Sindoor as a testament to India’s transformation into a strong, confident and capable nation. “The operation was proof that India will not tolerate terrorism in any form. As a responsible nuclear power, we firmly adhere to a (nuclear weapons) policy of ‘No First Use’. However, there are times when people mistake our restraint and commitment to peace for weakness. While India remains committed to its ‘No First Use’ policy, it will not tolerate any form of nuclear blackmail. This is New India,” he said.

The Indian Defence Minister reiterated the Modi government’s commitment to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing, stating that the all-time high figures of approximately Rs 1.54 lakh crore worth of defence production and nearly Rs 40,000 crore worth of defence exports in Financial Year 2025-26 are results of persistent efforts. He added that defence exports are poised to reach Rs 50,000 crore within the next 1 to 2 years, while defence production is projected to rise to Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the next couple of months.

Rajnath Singh began his visit to RoK, the final leg of his two-nation tour, by laying a wreath at the Korean War Cemetery in Seoul to pay homage to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the Korean War. He conveyed India’s solidarity with the people of RoK and stated that their courage, dedication, and spirit of patriotism remain an enduring source of inspiration.