Seoul: The chief of South Korea's defense procurement agency on Wednesday met with India's defense minister and discussed ways to expand bilateral arms cooperation, officials said. Lee Yong-cheol, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met in Seoul, following an agreement between the leaders of both countries to enhance economic cooperation during a summit in New Delhi last month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two officials agreed to expand arms cooperation, referring to last year's agreement for South Korea to export K9 self-propelled howitzers to India. Additionally, they discussed launching a joint platform to connect defense firms, startups, and universities from both nations. This initiative aims to accelerate arms cooperation, particularly in new technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned aircraft.

A defense forum was held after the meeting, where South Korean defense companies Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems Co. signed a memorandum of understanding with Mumbai-based Larsen and Toubro. This agreement further solidifies bilateral arms cooperation, aligning with the goals set by both nations to enhance their defense capabilities through collaborative efforts.