NEW DELHI: Top diplomats and industry experts have underscored that the defence industrial cooperation between India and the European Union (EU) is no longer a peripheral element but is fast becoming central to strategic outlooks of both regions.
Organised by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), a high-level closed-door conversation on 'India-EU Defence Cooperation: Partnering Europe's Security Push' brought together senior European diplomats, Indian industry leaders, and strategic experts as they explored how India's defence transformation intersects with the European Union’s evolving security posture.
Addressing the gathering, Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence and Aerospace, pointed out India's journey from importing defence equipment to becoming a potential global supplier. He noted three key milestones: the 2014 'Make in India' initiative, strategic operations like 'Operation Sindoor', and the Defence Production Policy’s push for indigenization.
Underscoring the significance of India's self-reliance drive, he noted "What we've seen in telecom, we can replicate in defence" and and emphasised the country's readiness to provide volume-based, cost-effective solutions to European partners.
Reflecting on Adani's role, he added, "At Adani Defence and Aerospace, we knew we wouldn't always find readymade talent, but we built systems to train, mentor, and grow it. Whether it’s NATO-certified ammunition or large-scale manufacturing capability, we've invested in building what India and our global partners need at scale and with quality."
The discussions centered on the EU’s recently announced Readiness 2030 (ReArm Europe) plan, which is an €800 billion initiative to enhance Europe’s defence autonomy, and how India’s defence manufacturing capabilities, under the 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, can complement this effort through joint ventures, technology partnerships, and co-production opportunities.
Deputy Head of Mission from the French Embassy, Damien Syed, reaffirmed that defence remains central to the partnership between India and France. He said that the defence firms of France are not only supplying critical technologies like jet engines but also open to co-developing next-generation platforms with India.
"Strategic autonomy is not about isolation, it’s about trusted partnerships, " said Syed.