Monitoring Desk,20-Apr; India and Canada have agreed to work on taking the Defence Relationship to the next level and make defence an important pillar of the Bilateral Relationship. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. The two leaders discussed ways to develop bilateral defence relations, which will be reflective of their democratic ethos and a shared interest in the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Singh welcomed the increased Canadian naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both Ministers also discussed potential areas of defence cooperation from UN peacekeeping training to Defence Industrial Cooperation. Mr. Singh highlighted India as an attractive defence manufacturing destination with competitive land and labour costs and two defence industrial corridors. He also invited Canadian defence companies to invest in India and carry out co-production. Ms. Anita Anand briefed him about Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the importance attached to enhancing engagement with India.
