India and South Africa have entered a new phase of defence and military cooperation, with the 18th BRICS Summit hosted under India's chairship in New Delhi serving as a catalyst for deepened bilateral engagement, according to a report in South Africa's The Citizen. The momentum spans army-to-army talks, naval agreements, and industrial collaboration — marking a structural shift in how the two nations approach security ties.

BRICS Summit Sets the Stage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 13 September 2026. The two leaders reviewed progress across diverse areas of cooperation and exchanged views on the multi-faceted strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to a statement issued by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides affirmed that their close and longstanding relations are rooted in shared historical struggles, strong cultural affinities, robust economic ties, and deep people-to-people connections.

First-Ever Army-to-Army Staff Talks

Just days after the summit, India and South Africa held their inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) in New Delhi from 16 to 18 September 2026 — a first in the bilateral relationship. The talks centred on expanding training exchanges and joint capacity-building initiatives.

'The maiden India–South Africa Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) were held in New Delhi from 16–18 September 2026. Both sides held discussions on avenues of enhancing bilateral defence cooperation through expanding training exchanges and joint capacity building, marking a significant step forward in strengthening military-to-military ties,' the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information posted on X.

The South African delegation also visited the Indian Army's artificial intelligence infusion initiatives and the 505 Army Base Workshop, gaining first-hand insight into India's technology-driven military transformation and its growing indigenous defence capabilities.

Naval Cooperation Expands

Maritime ties between the two nations have also deepened in parallel. The navies of India and South Africa signed an Implementing Agreement (IA) in September 2024 to ensure the safety of the South African Navy's submarine crew in emergencies. South Africa's participation in India's 2026 International Fleet Review and Exercise Milan further demonstrated the breadth of bilateral maritime engagement.

Industrial and Technology Collaboration

The defence relationship is now extending well beyond traditional military-to-military engagement. South African defence companies have established commercial links with Indian industry, according to the report. As The Citizen noted, the cooperation now encompasses technology transfer, joint manufacturing, skills development, and industrial collaboration.

The report highlighted the mutual strategic logic: for Pretoria, closer ties with India offer access to advanced defence technologies through joint manufacturing and capacity-building; for New Delhi, South Africa represents both a partner and a potential export market for Indian defence products as its indigenous military-industrial base expands. This is part of India's broader push to position itself as a credible defence exporter to Global South partners. All eyes are now on whether the two sides formalise these engagements into a dedicated defence cooperation framework in the months ahead.