India and Argentina, on Monday, signed 10 accords, including one on defence cooperation and issued a joint declaration expressing their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
The two countries also decided to upgrade their multi-faceted cooperation to a strategic partnership after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Argentina President Mauricio Macri.
Argentina also became the 72nd country to sign the framework agreement for joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The agreement for defence cooperation was signed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on the Indian side and Argentina Foreign Minister Jorge Fourie. The other accords were in areas like tourism, broadcasting, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and civil nuclear energy.
The defence cooperation agreement is significant since Argentina proposes to undertake joint ventures with India in this area and also participate in ‘Make in India’ programme. A team of defence officials from India is expected to visit Argentina in March to find ways to step up defence ties.
In a special declaration related to terrorism, PM Modi and the Argentina President stressed that terrorism was a global scourge that must be fought and terrorist safe havens rooted out from every part of the world.
They resolved that India and Argentina would fight together against this grave challenge to humanity. They committed to strengthening cooperation against terrorist threats from groups listed in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.