Berlin: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacted with members of the Indian community in Berlin, describing them as a strong bridge between India and Germany with contributions spanning business, technology, healthcare, academia and the arts, while highlighting India’s rapid economic growth and technological progress across infrastructure, startups, space and digital innovation. He emphasised that the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision aims to strengthen domestic capabilities, boost manufacturing and reduce dependence on imports, reflecting a broader push towards self-reliance and resilience.

Noting that India’s stature has risen significantly on the global stage, he remarked that its voice now carries greater weight in international forums and urged the diaspora to promote India’s perspective while deepening economic ties. He also marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Germany, built on trust, mutual respect and shared democratic values, encouraging the community to remain engaged while staying rooted in their heritage. The government, he added, remains committed to supporting and ensuring the security of Indian citizens abroad.

During his visit, Mr Singh addressed the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security, where discussions focused on the India-Germany strategic partnership and the recently signed India-EU strategic and defence agreement, alongside broader regional and global issues.

He held talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius and other senior leaders, with discussions expected to cover defence-industrial collaboration, military engagement and emerging sectors such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and drones. Agreements on defence cooperation and UN peacekeeping training are likely to be signed, while the visit also includes interactions with the German defence industry to advance joint development and co-production under the Make-in-India initiative.