By Staff Correspondent
India and Romania have inked a momentous Defence Cooperation Agreement intending to foster a deeper relationship between their respective armed forces. Signed during a bilateral meeting between Romania’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Simona Cojocaru, and India’s Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on 28 March in New Delhi, the agreement marks the first such accord between the two nations.
This comprehensive agreement covers diverse areas, including training, defence equipment, technical assistance, military medicine, science, technology, research and development. The State Secretary and Chief of the Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations of Romania, Simona Cojocaru, noted that the agreement underpins her country’s special interest in enhancing bilateral dialogues with states in the Indo-Pacific region, in line with the EU Strategy for cooperation in this strategic and economically significant region.
Cojocaru also emphasised that Romania’s defence companies can join forces with the Indian industry based on commercial agreements for co-production, sublicense production or joint venture. She added that Romanian private defence companies like Aerostar for Mig-21 maintenance activities enjoy sound relations with their Indian counterparts.
Once the agreement enters into force, both parties will oversee its execution through a Joint Committee on Defense Cooperation, which will convene periodically in Romania and India. “It is important to underline that specific cooperation activities in the spheres outlined in the agreement shall be mutually determined by both Parties, according to their mutual interests and needs of cooperation,” concluded Cojocaru.
As India plays a pivotal role in defending a rules-based international order and fundamental democratic values, this Defence Cooperation Agreement with Romania marks a significant step towards strengthening global stability and security.
