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The 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting between India and South Africa was held in Johannesburg on June 23 and 24, 2025. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, while the South African delegation was headed by Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr. Thobekile Gamede.
The first day of the meeting began with opening remarks from both co-chairs, setting the agenda and providing guidance for the two sub-committees reporting to the JDC. Both sides exchanged briefings on the capabilities of their respective defence industries.
During the discussions, Rajesh Kumar Singh recalled the long-standing historical ties between the two nations and expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in bilateral defence cooperation. He highlighted India’s growing capabilities in defence manufacturing and exports, and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with South Africa.
On the second day, the delegations focused on areas of mutual interest and identified the way forward for deeper cooperation. Two new agreements related to submarine cooperation were exchanged between the two nations during the meeting.
The sub-committees, one focusing on Defence Policy and Military Cooperation and the other on Defence Acquisition, Production, Research, and Development, presented their outcomes to the JDC.
The Indian delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Defence Production, representatives of the Services, and members of the Indian High Commission.
Relations between India and South Africa have long been rooted in a shared history of struggles against colonialism. Defence cooperation between the two countries began in 1996 with the signing of an MoU on “Cooperation in the Field of Defence Equipment” and was further strengthened with an upgraded agreement in 2000.
