India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation: A Growing Strategic Partnership
Due to the end of the Cold War, relations between India and South Korea have developed. Both countries have solidified their economic and military ties with one another. The introduction of India’s economy and the onset of the “Look East” approach were highly significant in connecting New Delhi and Seoul. South Korea has evolved into an important partner in India’s “Make in India” plan in recent years, and the two countries have been teaming up more effectively to make weapons. In the next few years, these two Asian countries are also expected to collaborate more on shipbuilding.
India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation and Strategic Autonomy
India has been highly reliant on other countries for many years when it comes to making weapons and ships. On the other hand, South Korea has become one of the top places to make ships and military weapons. In the course of the Russia–Ukraine war that started in 2022, Seoul has emerged as one of the key locations where NATO member states can get weapons.
India has been aiming to form pacts with other countries that could help it grow its industries for making weapons and ships. In this way, the relationship between India and South Korea became increasingly important, proving that they believe in each other more. From India’s point of view, Seoul is a “crucial partner” in the plans to make the country developed by 2047.
Historical Foundations of India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
There are historical and cultural ties between the Indian subcontinent and the Korean Peninsula that go back a long way. Yet India and South Korea’s economic and military ties only got stronger after the Cold War was over. Chaebols, or family-run big businesses like Hyundai, Samsung, and LG, have become more important in South Korea since then. South Korea is the most popular country in the world. Indian customers rely on South Korean products, given that they are of high quality and don’t cost too much. Similarly, South Korean pop culture, also known as Hallyu or the “Korean Wave,” has become more famous in India, especially in the northeastern states.
Expanding Trade Under India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
India and South Korea now trade about US$ 27 billion worth of goods and services with each other. They also communicate with each other more often. The level of strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Seoul has also grown since their relationship was upgraded to a “Special Strategic Partnership” in 2015. India and South Korea held their first-ever joint naval exercise in October 2025. The aim was to boost maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific area. Along with sailors from many other countries, the South Korean Navy has also been taking part in the “MILAN naval exercise” in India.
Act East Policy and India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
The “Act East” policy is one of the primary tasks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has undertaken to get closer to South Korea and other countries in the Asia-Pacific area on an economic, cultural, and strategic level. India has become more important in South Korea’s foreign affairs since the Lee Jae Myung government took office in June 2025 and started using “pragmatic diplomacy.”
President Lee intends to bring the close ties between India and South Korea to “a whole new level.” He met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on April 20, 2026, and they talked about several important issues that would help the two countries work together better in areas such as trade, critical minerals, AI, shipbuilding, the defense industry, steel production, nuclear power, digital technology, clean energy, cultural exchange, space research, and a QR code-based payment system.
Make in India and India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
When Narendra Modi’s government initiated the “Make in India” plan in 2014, the intent was to make India less reliant on importing manufactured goods. India has been one of the biggest buyers of defense weapons in the world. For India to have “strategic autonomy” in foreign affairs, it has been very important for its defense industries to become more in-house. In the same way, India has a problem with not having adequate ships and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) haulers. The Modi government’s plan to get more ships, which are important for India’s trade with other countries and marine security, is called “Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047 Vision.”
K9 Vajra Success in India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
The areas in which India and South Korea collaborate have grown to include the defense business and building ships. The K9 Vajra howitzers are the most important defense product that shows how well India and South Korea have been able to work together to make weapons. The April 2025 deal between the Indian company Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace to build 100 more K9 Vajra howitzers in India shows that New Delhi and Seoul could work together more on making weapons.
Defence Innovation and India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
India and South Korea vowed to collaborate more on developing new defense technologies through the India–Korea Defence Innovation Accelerator Ecosystem (KIND-X) during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to South Korea in May 2026. India and South Korea are working together more closely in the defense business, which could make India’s military stronger against China and Pakistan.
Shipbuilding Partnerships Under India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
In the same way, South Korea, which has evolved into a leader in the shipbuilding business, needs to work with India. In this project, the Indian company Cochin Shipyard has agreed to work with the South Korean company HD Hyundai to build commercial ships and military assault ships that can go on land or sea. Also, the shipbuilding industry got a lot of attention when President Lee Jae Myung went on a state visit to India in April 2026. India and South Korea have decided to work together more on shipbuilding. This is in line with the Indian government’s goal of making India’s maritime capabilities stronger.
Challenges Facing India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
There are some issues with India’s work with South Korea in the defense business and shipbuilding, though. A recent story in South Korean media says that too many rules and regulations, organized labor, bad infrastructure, and a lack of skilled workers in India could hurt South Korean investments there. Also, trade between India and South Korea needs to be made more beneficial for both sides, and the big trade imbalance between them needs to be cut down.
Future Prospects for India–South Korea Defence and Shipbuilding Cooperation
Conflicts that continue to rage on in Europe and West Asia have disrupted the global supply chain and energy security. These problems have also rendered things harder for “middle power” countries like South Korea and India. So, New Delhi and Seoul need to work together and form new agreements to make weapons and ships. There is a huge chance that ties between the two countries will get stronger. It looks like South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s recent trip to India has shown that the friendship between the two countries could reach a “new level.”
Credit: This article is based on insights from “The Deepening India–South Korea Cooperation in Arms Production and Shipbuilding” by Ranjit Kumar Dhawan, published by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). Full credit for the original research and analysis goes to the author and IDSA.
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