Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Fijian Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua and South Sudanese Defence Minister Lt Gen Chol Thon J Balok in Bengaluru ahead of Aero India 2025. The discussions focused on strengthening defence cooperation and expanding collaboration in various areas.
During the meeting with the Fijian Defence Minister, both sides reviewed ongoing defence cooperation and agreed to enhance collaboration. A key outcome of the discussions was the decision to institutionalize the India-Fiji Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation under the framework of a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding. They also agreed to bolster Maritime Domain Awareness efforts, focusing on maritime security, Exclusive Economic Zone protection, naval capacity building, and training cooperation for UN peacekeeping operations and defence personnel.
In discussions with the South Sudanese Defence Minister, both sides agreed to advance efforts toward a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate defence cooperation. The meeting also covered potential industry partnerships and expanded training exchanges. The South Sudanese delegation acknowledged India’s contributions to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
The bilateral meetings took place as part of broader engagements surrounding Aero India 2025, an international aerospace and defence exhibition hosted in Bengaluru.
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