New Delhi, 22 April (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invited German industrial giants to co-innovate under Atmanirbhar Bharat against burgeoning security threats, paying homage to Rabindranath Tagore at Humboldt University in Berlin while emphasizing enduring Indo-German cultural and intellectual bonds.

Addressing German parliamentarians on his three-day tour's first day before the Standing Committee on Defence and Security, Singh clarified self-reliance transcends mere procurement—it's a clarion call for joint evolution. He passionately advocated deeper fusion of defence-industrial ecosystems, lauding Germany's established might complemented by India's burgeoning startups and private entities amplifying legacy public firms.

In a tech-disrupted era spawning intertwined perils, Singh called for adaptive innovation and trusted strategic pacts, mirroring EU convergences fueling the India-EU Defence and Strategic Partnership.

West Asia's tumult exemplified by Hormuz blockades imperiling India's energy lifeline demands global vigilance, Singh noted, unveiling a ministerial task force for real-time assessments and mitigations. Indo-German ties, he prophesied, will epitomize diplomacy: two mature democracies advancing not reactively, but with ironclad resolve amid geopolitical tremors threatening energy, food, and economic stability.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar