India, Czech Republic agree to expand defence ties, explore joint development of military hardware

India and the Czech Republic on Tuesday agreed to expand bilateral defence cooperation, including exploring opportunities for the joint development of military hardware, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held wide-ranging talks with Czech Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček in New Delhi.

The discussions focused on strengthening defence industrial partnerships, expanding existing joint ventures and identifying new avenues for collaboration under India's 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives.

Havlíček, who also serves as the Czech Republic's Minister of Industry and Trade, is on a four-day visit to India during which he is holding meetings with government ministries, industry representatives and business organisations.

"Both leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of defence industrial cooperation between the two countries," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting built on the understanding reached in January 2024, when India and the Czech Republic identified defence as one of the priority sectors for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

According to the Defence Ministry, Singh and Havlíček welcomed the progress achieved through existing industrial partnerships and the establishment of joint ventures involving companies from both countries.

The two sides agreed to broaden cooperation in defence manufacturing and explore opportunities for the co-development of military equipment.

"While the two sides welcomed the ongoing collaboration and successful establishment of various joint ventures, they agreed to further expand this cooperation, including under the aegis of India-Czech joint defence committee to promote 'Make-in-India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'," the ministry said.

The proposed expansion is expected to involve greater engagement between defence industries, with the joint defence committee providing an institutional framework for identifying and pursuing areas of mutual interest.

The ministry did not specify the military platforms or equipment being considered for joint development, nor did it announce any new agreements during the meeting.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

The discussions reflected India's continuing emphasis on strengthening domestic defence manufacturing capabilities through partnerships with foreign technology and equipment manufacturers.

Under the 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives, the government has sought to encourage domestic production, technology collaboration and greater participation by Indian companies in the defence sector.

The Defence Ministry said the two countries recognised the value of their existing industrial cooperation and agreed to explore further opportunities through established bilateral mechanisms.

The proposed collaboration could provide additional avenues for Indian and Czech defence companies to work together on manufacturing and technological development, subject to future agreements.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱

Apart from defence industrial cooperation, Singh and Havlíček exchanged views on issues concerning peace and security.

The ministry said the two leaders acknowledged the importance of closer cooperation in maintaining regional stability amid evolving security challenges.

"They reiterated that the partnership between India and the Czech Republic is based on historical and cultural ties, and shared values of mutual trust and respect," the statement said.

The discussions highlighted the broader strategic dimension of bilateral relations, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic and commercial exchanges.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁

Havlíček's visit includes engagements with various government ministries, trade organisations and business bodies aimed at strengthening economic and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

The Czech Deputy Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Bengaluru and Mumbai as part of his four-day itinerary.

His engagements are expected to provide opportunities for discussions with Indian industry representatives across sectors of mutual interest.

The meeting with Singh marked an important defence-related engagement during the visit, with both sides reaffirming their intention to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new areas of cooperation.

The Defence Ministry said India and the Czech Republic would continue working through bilateral mechanisms, including the joint defence committee, to advance their defence industrial relationship.