India and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation with a focus on developing defence ties as a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership. Co-chairing a High Defence Committee meeting in New Delhi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and German State Secretary Jens Plötner discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment. According to the Ministry of Defence, both sides emphasised on the need for a closer defence partnership and connecting the industries of both nations, especially in the field of niche technology. It added that Germany will be participating in TARANG SHAKTI, a multinational air combat exercise and MILAN, multinational naval exercise which is planned next year.