Overview
- Rajnath Singh and Guido Crosetto, in talks on Thursday in New Delhi, exchanged a 2026–27 Military Cooperation Plan that sets a schedule for joint exercises, training and staff exchanges.
- Both ministers agreed to build a defence‑industrial framework that enables co‑production and co‑development of equipment under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat policy and Italy’s cooperation initiative.
- Maritime security was a priority with plans to share data through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram, a hub that links about 50 partners to improve sea surveillance.
- India raised concerns about sensitive technologies reaching Pakistan, with sources saying Singh warned that advanced systems could be misused and urged safeguards in any future transfers.
- Industry talks ran in parallel as the Indian Coast Guard hosted Fincantieri on shipbuilding and niche tech such as AI decision tools and anti‑drone systems, while Leonardo’s new helicopter venture with Adani signaled commercial pathways for the political push.