India and South Korea sign defense pacts in Seoul

India and South Korea have signed a series of new defense agreements, expanding their strategic partnership into areas of joint production, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. The pacts were finalized on Wednesday in Seoul during high-level talks between Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyuback.

The ministers reviewed the full spectrum of defense cooperation, agreeing to deepen collaboration in defense industry, maritime security, logistics, military exchanges, and regional security. They acknowledged the growing strategic convergence between India’s Act East Policy and South Korea’s regional vision, reaffirming a shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Several memoranda of understanding were signed, covering cooperation in defense cybersecurity, training exchanges between India’s National Defence College and Korea National Defence University, and collaboration in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The agreements are intended to establish a more institutionalized foundation for long-term military cooperation.

A key focus of the discussions was expanding industrial collaboration, building on...