External Affairs Defence Security News

IOR maritime mechanism to be consensus-based: Navy Chief Dinesh Tripathi

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi on Saturday said that any proposed joint maritime mechanism in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) would be based on consensus among participating nations, assuring India's support for partner countries in capacity-building efforts. Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) 2026, Admiral Tripathi said the first session of the conclave involved discussions regarding enhanced cooperation among IOR nations, including the possibility of a joint task force-type arrangement. "The GMC is based on consensus. There has to be a consensus among all nations. All of us have different capabilities, so what everyone brings to the table has to be taken into consideration," he said. The Navy chief noted that the idea of closer operational cooperation was well accepted and said modalities of a joint task force would have to be worked out collectively. He highlighted a previous initiative, referring to Indian Ocean Ship (I

Rajnath Singh calls for stronger global naval cooperation at MILAN 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged the international community to work collectively to address the increasingly complex and interconnected challenges in the maritime domain, guided by mutual respect and a spirit of cooperation. Addressing Navy Chiefs and Heads of Delegations from 74 countries during the inaugural ceremony of Exercise MILAN here on Thursday Singh asserted that traditional threats now coexist with emerging challenges such as piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, trafficking, cyber vulnerabilities, and disruptions to critical supply chains. He added that climate change is intensifying natural disasters, making humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations more frequent and demanding. "The role of navies in international peacemaking has only increased over time. There has been an exponential economic growth during the last few decades leading to massive increase in international trade and transport. There has also been a rise in contests for ...

India-UK ties built on trust, collaboration, and shared ambition: UK envoy

The UK and India share a dynamic and forward-looking partnership built on trust, collaboration, and shared ambition, UK's Trade Commissioner for South Asia Harjinder Kang has said. Speaking during the annual King's Birthday Party celebrations here, Kang said this year's celebration follows a milestone year in UKIndia relations, marked by the signing of a Free Trade Agreement, a shared India-UK Vision 2035, and reciprocal visits by Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi to each other's countries. The past year reflects a partnership that is deeper, broader, and more forward-looking than ever before, he said. "The UK and India share a dynamic and forward-looking partnership built on trust, collaboration, and shared ambition," Kang, who is also the Deputy High Commissioner, said on Friday. Kang hosted the King's Birthday Party on Friday, bringing together distinguished guests to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III. The evening brought together senior representatives fr

IAF to train RAF pilots: All British academies now host Indian instructors

The IAF instructors to be deployed to RAF Valley will instruct on the trainer aircraft BAE Hawk T2 or Texan T1

Armed forces likely to see big-ticket approvals at DAC meet on Thursday

The DAC may consider a ₹2.7 trillion Rafale deal, Scalp missiles and other key Army, Navy and Air Force acquisitions at today's meeting

India, Malaysia sign 11 agreements, boost semicon and defence ties

During PM Narendra Modi's Kuala Lumpur visit, India and Malaysia signed 11 agreements spanning semiconductors, payments and disaster management, while pledging to expand trade and investment ties

Critical mineral cooperation with US advancing rapidly: Jaishankar

EAM S Jaishankar said the India-US trade deal is close to completion, marking a new phase in bilateral ties, as his Washington visit advanced cooperation on trade, energy and critical minerals

Swan Defence gets export order from Oman for naval training vessel

The vessel will be equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation system, advanced communication suites and a deck capable of supporting helicopter operations

Would like defence spending at 2.5% of GDP in 5 years: Rajesh Kumar Singh

The share of domestic firms in the value of capital procurement was 87% in FY25. This level will never fall below 75%

India, Russia in talks on joint production of Su-57 fighter jets: Report

India and Russia are holding technical discussions to explore the possibility of the joint production of the 5th-generation Sukhoi Su-57E fighter jet in India, a top Russian aerospace official claimed on Wednesday. There was no response from the Indian side on his claim. "Today, we are in the advanced stage of technical negotiations on this contract. Such contracts, given our experience, determine the trajectory of our cooperation for several decades to come," CEO of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Vadim Badekha told Russian reporters on the sidelines of the Wings India air show at Begumpet airport in Hyderabad. Russia has put on static display its latest regional transport aircraft - the Ilyushin Il-114-300 and the Sukhoi SJ-100. Badekha claimed that the parties are also discussing "the licensed production of the Su-57 fighters in India at the facilities currently used to produce the Su-30 aircraft, and the maximum use of Indian industry and Indian systems in this ...

India, EU sign first comprehensive defence and security agreement

Europe's growing focus on defence preparedness has already benefited Indian defence firms, particularly manufacturers of munition

Two busy weeks ahead for MEA as South Block readies hectic calendar

Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish deputy prime minister, who also holds the portfolio of foreign affairs, along with his spouse, journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, will be in India from Monday onwards

India, Japan to convene joint working group on critical minerals soon

Under the India-Japan economic security initiative, both sides will convene a private sector dialogue to enhance public-private cooperation in the field of economic security

India remains engaged with the US, says MEA on Chabahar port project

India is mulling various options on its engagement in the development of the strategically-located Chabahar port in Iran against the backdrop of the Trump administration threatening a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran. India is a major partner in development of the Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province Iran's southern coast. In September last year, the US imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran but had granted India a six-month exemption from the punitive measures on the Chabahar port project. The waiver will come to an end on April 26. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said New India is engaged with the US on the issue. His remarks in answering a question came amid reports that New Delhi is looking at withdrawing from it in view of fresh American tariffs on nations having trade relations with Iran. "As you are aware, on October 28, the US Department of Treasury had issued a letter outlinin

Trying to increase trust with China: Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi

General Upendra Dwivedi's annual news conference highlights India's approach

Indian envoy to Bangladesh Pranay Verma meets new BNP chief Tarique Rahman

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Saturday met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, a day after the party officially elected him to the position ahead of the scheduled February 12 elections. The meeting lasted for some 40 minutes, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) media cell spokesman Sayrul Kabir Khan told PTI, calling it a courtesy call. BNP emerged as the forerunner in Bangladesh politics, with its once crucial ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, being the main rival, ahead of the scheduled February 12 elections, in the absence of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's now disbanded Awami League. A student-led violent street movement toppled the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, while the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government disbanded the party in an executive order last year, debarring it from contesting the elections. Rahman has been steering BNP as its acting chairman since 2018. The party's policy-making standing committee on Friday night formally elected him as

Jaishankar begins 6-day visit to France, Luxembourg to discuss key issue

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday began a six-day visit to France and Luxembourg to hold talks on bilateral and global issues of mutual interests. In Paris, he will be meeting the French leadership and will hold talks with Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Jaishankar's visit to France comes against the backdrop of growing global concerns over the US capturing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a military operation. The MEA said Jaishankar and Barrot will discuss the progress made under the India-France strategic partnership and matters of global importance. The two ministers are also expected to prepare ground for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India next month to participate in the AI Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had co-chaired the AI Summit along with Macron in Paris last February. The external affairs minister will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors'

₹1.8 trn defence contracts signed by Q3 FY26, modernisation gains pace

MoD's push for a sharp increase in modernisation funding gains strength ahead of Budget

When India chose direct action over deterrence, shifting doctrine in 2025

Marked by Op Sindoor, the year saw a shift in doctrine, thinking on future wars

India-Oman CEPA to infuse new energy into bilateral trade, says PM Modi

In his address, Modi highlighted the centuries-old maritime trading ties between the two countries, from Mandvi to Muscat, which today form the bedrock of vibrant commercial exchanges