India and the Czech Republic have agreed to strengthen their defence industrial partnership, with a focus on promoting domestic manufacturing under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
According to a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Karel Havlíček, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, in New Delhi on October 13, 2026.
The two leaders reviewed the full range of defence industrial cooperation between the countries and welcomed ongoing collaboration, including the successful establishment of several joint ventures. They agreed to explore further opportunities to expand cooperation, including through the India-Czech Joint Defence Committee.
The discussions also covered ongoing peace and security issues, with both sides recognising the importance of closer cooperation in maintaining regional stability. They reaffirmed that bilateral relations are built on longstanding historical and cultural ties, as well as mutual trust and respect.
Havlíček is on a four-day visit to India, during which he is scheduled to engage with various ministries, trade representatives and businesses. His itinerary also includes visits to industries in Bengaluru and Mumbai, providing opportunities to strengthen industrial and business ties between the two countries.