South Africa’s growing defence partnership with India is expanding beyond military exchanges into technology, skills development and manufacturing…reports Africa Daily News Desk
South Africa’s renewed defence engagement with India is gaining momentum, with recent military exchanges and industrial links opening new avenues for Pretoria to strengthen its defence capabilities and develop local expertise.
The growing cooperation was highlighted following the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reviewed bilateral ties and discussed areas of mutual interest.
For South Africa, closer defence cooperation with India could provide access to technology, training and manufacturing capabilities as Pretoria seeks to strengthen its domestic defence industry.
A report in South Africa’s The Citizen noted that India’s expanding indigenous military-industrial base could create opportunities for South African defence companies while allowing Pretoria to benefit from joint manufacturing, skills development and capacity-building.
“For Pretoria, closer ties with India offer opportunities to access advanced defence technologies through joint manufacturing, skills development and capacity-building,” the report said.
The two countries have moved beyond high-level discussions with increased military-to-military engagement.
India and South Africa held their first Army-to-Army Staff Talks in New Delhi from September 16 to 18, focusing on expanded training exchanges and joint capacity-building initiatives.
“The maiden India–South Africa Army-to-Army Staff Talks (AAST) were held in New Delhi from 16–18 September 2026,” the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information said.
“Both sides held discussions on avenues of enhancing bilateral defence cooperation through expanding training exchanges and joint capacity building, marking a significant step forward in strengthening military-to-military ties,” it added.
For South Africa, such exchanges provide opportunities to gain exposure to India’s experience in developing indigenous military technologies and integrating emerging capabilities into defence operations.
The South African delegation visiting New Delhi also toured the Indian Army’s artificial intelligence initiatives and the 505 Army Base Workshop, where it was briefed on technology-driven military transformation and indigenous defence capabilities.
The engagement also has a maritime dimension.
India and South Africa signed an Implementing Agreement in September 2024 aimed at ensuring the safety of South African Navy submarine crews in the event of distress or accidents.
South Africa’s participation in India’s 2026 International Fleet Review and Exercise Milan further demonstrated the scope of naval cooperation between the two countries.
The partnership could also have implications for South Africa’s defence manufacturing sector, with defence companies from the country establishing commercial links with Indian industry, according to The Citizen.
For Pretoria, closer engagement with India offers a potential route to expand industrial cooperation while developing skills and technological capacity within South Africa.
For India, deeper defence ties with South Africa could provide an opportunity to expand the reach of its growing indigenous defence industry into African markets.
The cooperation comes as South Africa continues to play a prominent role in African diplomacy and as both countries seek to use BRICS and other multilateral platforms to deepen ties among countries of the Global South.
The defence relationship therefore increasingly extends beyond conventional military exercises and personnel exchanges.
“For both countries, therefore, defence cooperation is extending beyond traditional military-to-military engagement to technology, manufacturing, skills development and industrial collaboration,” the Citizen report said.
For South Africa, the emerging partnership with India offers a framework for cooperation that combines defence diplomacy with industrial development, technology access and skills building, potentially giving a broader economic dimension to the country’s military partnerships.
