Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct 16: As part of the 12th DefExpo in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will host the defence ministers of African countries during the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD).
“India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defense and Security Cooperation” was the dialogue’s overarching theme.
Africa and India have a long history of interaction. The Kampala Principles, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, serve as the country’s framework for dealing with Africa. Indian involvement is based on priorities set out by Africans themselves.
On February 6, 2020, in conjunction with DefExpo, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh hosted the inaugural India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave. IAAD will be held alternate years alongside DefExpo in keeping with the “Lucknow Declaration” and after consulting with stakeholders. The IADD will look into new areas of convergence for mutual involvement, including counterterrorism, cyber security, training, and capacity building.
“The exhibition will also host the 2nd edition of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD), with invites extended to 53 African countries. A separate Indian Ocean Region plus (IOR+) conclave with the participation of approximately 40 countries is also on the anvil,” a press release by the defence ministry read.
The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will exhibit a vast array of 430 items at the DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, from October 18 to 22. These goods include strategic and tactical weapon systems, defence tools, and technologies.
