Addressing German parliamentarians in Berlin, -Rajnath Singh “Atmanirbhar Bharat is not just a procurement programme, it is an invitation to co-creation, co-development and co-innovation”, he said in a call to industry on Tuesday.On reaching Germany, Rajnath was welcomed with military honors at the Berlin airport. During the flight from Munich to Berlin he was flown in a special aircraft of the German Air Force, protected by fighter jets. During his three-day visit, Rajnath is set to hold talks with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius and other senior leaders.Addressing the German Parliamentary Standing Committee, Rajnath strongly pitched for increased cooperation between the defense industrial ecosystem of the two countries. He stressed that “Today the world faces new security threats, and technological change has made the situation increasingly complex and complicated. A new approach with a willingness to adapt to the changing environment is the need of the hour.”Pointing out that India is witnessing unprecedented transformation in the defense sector, he said enhanced partnership with German industry can yield significant mutual benefits. “We recognize the established strengths of Germany’s leading industrial enterprises, while also admiring the strength and dynamism of the renowned German Mittelstand (small and medium-sized companies) in advanced and emerging technologies. In India too, our start-ups and entrepreneurial private companies are rapidly expanding and complementing the capabilities of our large and established defense enterprises. This is an area where India and Germany naturally complement each other and our partnership can deepen further.”To deal with modern global challenges, Rajnath underlined the need for coordinated responses and credible strategic partnerships. “PM Narendra Modi And German Chancellor Mr. Friedrich Merz has emphasized on taking this strategic partnership forward. We also see a clear convergence of views at the EU level, reflected in the growing pace of engagement with India, including the India-EU Defense and Strategic Partnership,” he said.He said that India and Germany are not only strategic partners but also influential voices in shaping the global discourse of the present times. “We are established democracies bound by shared values, and dynamic economies driven by resilience, innovation and tenacious industrial spirit. As lawmakers and respected members of the Committee, your guidance, voice and support can further strengthen and enrich the future course of our defense and strategic cooperation.“Rajnath pointed out that the current geopolitical instability can no longer be seen as a regional matter. The scope of their consequences is global, he said, describing them as not local disturbances, but serious developments with far-reaching implications for energy security, food security and global economic stability, in addition to enormous humanitarian costs.