Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister of India - Co-chaired 6th India-France Defence Dialogue

India has depended on Russia for weapons since the Cold War. That dependence peaked at 76% of arms imports in 2009-2013 but has now fallen to 36%—while France has surged to become India's second-largest supplier, accounting for 33% of defense purchases. On February 17, 2026, the two countries signed an agreement to manufacture HAMMER precision-guided missiles in India, marking a shift from France selling finished weapons to both nations building them together.

Updated Feb 17

India's Defence Minister - Chaired Defence Acquisition Council approving the $8.7B deal

India's Defence Acquisition Council approved an $8.7 billion arms package from Israel in January 2026—1,000 SPICE-1000 precision bomb kits that can hit targets 125 kilometers away in GPS-jammed environments, plus air-to-air missiles, loitering munitions, radars, and networked command systems. The deal cements India as Israel's largest defense customer, accounting for 34% of Israeli exports from 2020-2024. Within days, reports emerged that India is also acquiring Air LORA ballistic missiles (400-kilometer range), Ice Breaker cruise missiles (300-kilometer range), and additional Rampage missiles, with full technology transfer agreements enabling domestic production.

Updated Jan 31

Defence Minister of India - Met with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas to discuss defence industry cooperation

India and the European Union became strategic partners in 2004. Twenty-one years later, at the 16th EU-India Summit on January 27, 2026, they signed a Security and Defence Partnership that makes India the third Asian country—after Japan and South Korea—to gain formal access to European defence initiatives. The two sides also concluded negotiations on a historic free trade agreement covering 2 billion people and representing a combined market of $27 trillion. Once the FTA completes legal vetting and enters force in 2027, Indian firms will be able to participate in the EU's €150 billion SAFE rearmament programme.

Updated Jan 30