Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Holds Bilateral Talks with Fiji, South Sudan Defence Ministers

GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 10th Feb. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Fiji and South Sudan in Bengaluru ahead of Aero India 2025. Discussions focused on strengthening defence cooperation, maritime security, and training programs.

Singh welcomed Fijian Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua on his first visit to India, with both nations agreeing to institutionalize the India-Fiji Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation, originally outlined in a 2017 MoU. Key areas of collaboration include Maritime Domain Awareness, Exclusive Economic Zone protection, naval capacity-building, and UN peacekeeping training.

In talks with South Sudanese Defence Minister Lt Gen Chol Thon J Balok, both sides agreed to expedite an MoU to enhance defence cooperation. India’s contributions to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan were acknowledged, and both nations committed to expanding military training and industry partnerships.

These meetings mark a step toward deeper defence ties between India, Fiji, and South Sudan as Aero India 2025 approaches.