Posted on September 5, 2023
Rajnath Singh, the Defense Minister, held discussions with Aden Bare Duale, the Kenyan counterpart, on Tuesday, and both agreed on joint training of forces in the counter-insurgency field while India is also going to help Kenya in vessel design and building, per the Defense Ministry.
Rajnath Singh presented about 15 pairs of parachutes (main and reserve) produced by Gliders India Ltd to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defense as a mark of friendship. He promised to set up a very advanced CT scan facility in Kenya.
An MoU was signed between Kenya Shipyard Ltd and Goa Shipyard Ltd for capacity building and collaboration in ship design and construction.
Duale also appreciated the rising prowess of India’s defence industry, including the private sector, and highlighted the areas wherein the Indian industry can support the needs of the Kenyan Forces, per the Defense Ministry.
Per the ministry, he suggested training the trainers of Kenya’s Forces by India’s Armed Forces’ instructors to maintain continuity and extract greater benefits from such programs.
Both sides decided on joint training in counter-insurgency and the UN’s peacekeeping domains.
Other regional security issues of mutual interest were also elaborately discussed in the meeting, per the official.
Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defense Staff General, and Giridhar Aramane, the Defense Secretary, were present in the meeting with relevant senior officials of the country’s Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Defense PSUs.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defense is on a three-day visit to India. He is also going to visit Indian shipyards as well as defence industries in Bangalore and Goa during the stay.
The Defense Ministry said the meeting testified to the rising depth of the India-Kenya defence collaboration. The two ministers agreed that the defence relationship between the two nations has evolved from being overtly training-centric to including more strategic aspects.
Rajnath Singh reportedly underscored the importance India bestows on its ties to African nations. Notably, the relationship between Kenya and India has been evolving from strength to strength. The Ministers further concurred on the requirement for deeper cooperation in maritime safety and security of the Indian Ocean region, relevant officials added.
