Tuesday, Rajnath Singh, India’s defense minister, said that cooperation between India and African countries was important for peace and prosperity in the seas. He also urged African countries to use India’s defense manufacturing to meet their own security needs, as reported by Sandip Dighe.
At the India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave in Pune, he said, “India and Africa are maritime neighbors, and their cooperation in maritime security, hydrography, and fighting terrorism and extremism will be essential.” At the conclave, 31 countries from Africa took part.
Singh said that the armed forces’ training programs cover a wide range of areas, such as counter-insurgency operations, peacekeeping, maritime security, and specialized training in new areas like cyber warfare and drone operations. He was talking about the ongoing joint India-Africa exercise AFINDEX. He also said that it includes teaching civilians how to deal with disasters, help people in need, and give medical aid.
The minister also told African nations that they should look into Indian defense equipment and technologies to meet their own security needs.
Later, when he gave the Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw memorial lecture on “The Role of Youth in Building a Nation,” the defense minister said that India had become a top exporter of defense in recent years.
General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, talked earlier in the day about how the Indian armed forces helped with different missions in African countries. “Our shared knowledge can help us get ready for new threats. There are a lot of African armies that have worked in tough places and can give useful advice “he said
