India and South Korea are set to revive their post-Covid defence ties, riding on a 2020 roadmap which focuses on military hardware supplies amid growing convergence between New Delhi and Seoul in the Indo-Pacific region.
South Korean Minister of National Defence Suh Wook arrived in the Indian capital Thursday from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to revive joint military activities that were stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The touchstone of the revival of military ties is the February 2020 framework agreement titled a 'Roadmap for Defence Industries Cooperation,' inked during the bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Jeong Kyeong-Doo, the then Defence Minister of South Korea, in New Delhi.
The roadmap listed a number of possible areas of cooperation in land, naval, aero and guided weapon systems including research and development cooperation, collaboration regarding testing, certification and quality assurance. It also aimed to promote investment and technology transfer in Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
It followed the import of 10 K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre guns from Hanwha Techwin of South Korea in Semi Knocked Down state and assembled by Larsen & Tubro in India. Another 90 guns are being largely manufactured in India with some major assemblies coming from South Korea. Its induction gave a huge fillip to the firepower capability of Indian Army on western borders.
India is the sixth largest export destination for Korean goods and among Seoul's top 10 trade partners. Leading corporate groups like Hyundai, Samsung, LG and many other Korean companies continue to have a huge presence in the country.
"India offers tremendous business opportunity to Korean defence industries in India with liberalised licencing regime, attractive FDI provisions, strong and skilled industrial work force, single window clearances and establishment of Defence Investor Cell to facilitate investors and various other industry friendly initiatives," Rajnath Singh had said while addressing CEOs of Korean and Indian defence industries in Seoul in September 2019.
India's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General MM Naravane receiving a Guard of Honour at ROK Army Headquarters in Gyeryong during his visit to South Korea in December (Image courtesy: ADGPI)
Inviting South Korean defence manufacturing companies to invest in India, Singh asked them to explore the feasibility of local production of items used in main weapon system imported by Indian defence PSUs.
“We are progressing towards becoming a manufacturing hub of defence equipment and investors can use India as a spring board to export defence equipment manufactured in India to various friendly countries in South East Asia, Middle Asia, Middle East Asia, South Asia and Africa," he added.
Under its ‘Act East Policy’, India considers South Korea as an indispensable partner for co-operation and this bond is expected to get stronger during Suh Wook's three-day stay in New Delhi beginning today.
Besides, symbolising growing ties between New Delhi and Seoul, Singh and Suh Wook will participate in the opening ceremony for the 'India-Korea Friendship Park' at Delhi Cantt. A monument dedicated to the Korean War to commemorate the sacrifices and dedication of the Indian troops, who dispatched the largest medical support units during the conflict, will also be unveiled in the park.
Earlier this month, India and South Korea had agreed to actively seek ways to resume high-level exchanges, including the foreign ministerial joint committee meeting and the foreign and defence (2+2) vice-ministerial meeting, following new Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong's first telephone conversation with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on March 9.
India, emerging as a global growth engine, remains one of the Korea's main partners for diplomatic diversification and in implementing its New Southern Policy. During their conversation, Chung and Jaishankar took note that the two countries have maintained their special strategic partnership at the highest level based on the deep friendship and trust between President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They had agreed to reinforce substantive cooperation through closer communication despite the Covid-19 situation.
Agreeing to work actively together in responding to climate change, including at the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, Jaishankar had also made it clear that India will support the efforts for substantive progress in the Korean Peninsula peace process as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term.
Chung Eui-yong had last week met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during latter's visit to Seoul. Along with the U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, who later visited New Delhi, Blinken took part in the 5th Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
Post discussions, Blinken was asked if South Korea can contribute to the strengthening of the Indo-Pacific Quad, comprising India, US, Australia and Japan?
"We have to find ways to deepen cooperation, to deepen coordination with likeminded countries. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing with our close allies and partners here. It’s what we do in our trilateral cooperation as well with Japan. It’s what we do through the Quad. It’s what we do through ASEAN," he replied.
While Washington remains "clear-eyed" about Beijing’s "aggressive and authoritarian behaviour", a solid India-South Korea partnership is vital for the stability, security, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General MM Naravane had during his visit to South Korea from 28 to 30 December 2020, met senior military and civilian leadership of the country. His was the first-ever visit by an Indian Army chief to the southern half of the Korean Peninsula.
During his visit, General Naravane called on Minister of National Defence, the Army Chief, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and also the Minister of Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to discuss avenues for enhancing India-ROK defence relations.
The Indian Army chief had also visited Korea Combat Training Centre in Inje Country, Gangwon Province and Agency Defence Development (ADD) at Daejeon.
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