NEW DELHI, Apr 22: In the backdrop of the ongoing West Asian conflict, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are not distant events but stark realities with direct implications for India’s security and economic stability.
Addressing the German Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security on the first day of his three-day visit to Germany, he said the world is currently facing new security threats, while rapid technological transformation has made the global situation more complex and deeply interconnected.
He stressed that a new approach, along with the willingness to adapt to changing global conditions, is the need of the hour.
Singh also called for stronger collaboration between the defence industrial ecosystems of India and Germany, highlighting growing opportunities for cooperation in emerging technologies.
His visit comes amid the prolonged West Asia conflict, which has continued for over 50 days with significant global impact.
“For a developing country like India, which depends heavily on the West Asian region for energy supplies, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are not distant events. They are stark realities with direct implications for our security and economic stability,” Singh said.
He noted that India has adopted a proactive and coordinated strategy to address these emerging challenges.
Emphasizing the importance of trusted partnerships, Singh said coordinated global responses are essential to deal with modern security threats.
He also highlighted the strong political convergence between India and Germany, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have both emphasized strengthening strategic ties.
Singh pointed to growing engagement between India and the European Union, including progress in the India–EU Defence and Strategic Partnership.
He described Aatmanirbhar Bharat as more than a procurement initiative, calling it an invitation to co-create, co-develop, and co-innovate with global partners.
He acknowledged Germany’s strong industrial base and its Mittelstand companies, while noting India’s growing ecosystem of start-ups and private defence enterprises that are rapidly expanding capabilities.
Singh said India and Germany complement each other naturally and have significant scope to deepen defence and technology cooperation.
Reiterating the importance of the partnership, he said both nations are established democracies driven by shared values, innovation, and industrial strength.
He added that the India-Germany relationship is shaping up as a key pillar in global diplomacy, built on steady cooperation rather than crisis response.
Singh further said that today’s geopolitical instability cannot be seen as isolated regional issues, as their impact extends to global energy security, food security, economic stability, and humanitarian concerns.
Upon arrival in Berlin, Singh was welcomed with full military honours and travelled in a Special German Air Force aircraft, escorted by fighter jets from Munich to Berlin.
Earlier, he paid floral tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Humboldt University in Berlin, highlighting the cultural and intellectual ties between India and Germany. (Agency)
