New Delhi, April 19 (NationPress) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on an official trip to Germany from April 21-23 aimed at enhancing the defence collaboration between the two countries.

During this visit, Rajnath Singh is expected to engage in discussions with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, and other prominent government officials.

The agenda will emphasize boosting defence industrial cooperation, fortifying military-to-military engagements, and investigating potential opportunities in emerging fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and drones, as stated by the Ministry of Defence.

A Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and an Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Operations Training are anticipated to be signed in the presence of both ministers.

"This visit will serve as a chance to evaluate the ongoing defence cooperation initiatives and discover new paths for collaboration between the defence sectors of both nations. Shri Rajnath Singh is also likely to engage with key figures from the German defence industry to promote joint development and co-production under the Make-in-India initiative," the Ministry of Defence noted in a release.

The last time an Indian Defence Minister visited Germany was in 2019 when then-Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman traveled to the European nation. Boris Pistorius visited India in June 2023 for discussions with Rajnath Singh.

"India and Germany maintain a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership, grounded in democratic values, the rule of law, and a mutual commitment to a rule-based international order. Defence and security cooperation has become a vital component of this partnership in recent times. The goal of this visit is to further enrich bilateral relations and contribute to regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity," the Ministry of Defence stated in a release.

On April 14, India and Germany conducted Foreign Office Consultations in Berlin and agreed to deepen and diversify cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, defence, industrial collaboration, digital governance, renewable energy, green hydrogen, innovation, and development assistance in third countries.

During this meeting, officials from both nations reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and sought ways to enhance the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, as mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"During the Consultations, both parties undertook a thorough review of the entire spectrum of India-Germany bilateral relations, covering trade and investment, defence and security, technology, green and sustainable development, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges," it stated.

The two nations also discussed significant regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and State Secretary of the German Foreign Office Geza Andreas von Geyr co-chaired the Foreign Office Consultations held in Berlin.

"The consultations hold significance in a pivotal year for bilateral relations, as India and Germany celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties this year, following the commemoration of 25 years of the Strategic Partnership in 2025. The Co-chairs also unveiled the logo celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Germany," the MEA release stated.

During his time in Berlin, Misri also met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a productive meeting with German Foreign Minister Dr. Johann Wadephul in Berlin on April 14. FM Wadephul acknowledged the ongoing positive developments in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. Both parties agreed to broaden and deepen cooperation across key sectors and reaffirmed the significance of this crucial relationship," the Indian Embassy in Germany posted on X.

Misri also engaged with senior Foreign Policy experts, Members of Parliament, and senior officials from both Federal and state governments at the Korber Foundation.

"Foreign Secretary Vikram enjoyed an engaging interaction with political leaders and senior government officials. The discussions revolved around enhancing the India-Germany Strategic Partnership across key pillars of cooperation, including trade, defence, technology, and innovation, while exchanging views on regional and global developments."