Dateline: KIEL, GERMANY - In an unexpected hiccup during an otherwise smooth diplomatic visit, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh experienced a brief but embarrassing moment today while attempting to board a German submarine (U-boat) at the Kiel Naval Base.
Singh, who is on a three-day official tour to bolster Indo-German defense cooperation, was scheduled to inspect the advanced Type 212CD submarine as part of potential technology transfer discussions.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh gets stuck while boarding a German submarine during his visit to Germany. pic.twitter.com/ial1G28hfO
- South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) April 24, 2026
Eyewitnesses report that the Defense Minister stepped confidently onto the gangway but came to an abrupt stop at the narrow hatch-known in naval parlance as the "coaming"-designed for much smaller-framed crew members. After a visible moment of hesitation and a brief struggle to maneuver through the cramped entry point, Singh was assisted by German naval personnel who guided him through sideways.
"Getting into a submarine is never graceful, even for a veteran," said a senior Indian Navy official accompanying the delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The hatches are not designed for ceremonial visits. There is no protocol issue here."
Despite the awkward pause, Singh completed the tour, inspecting the sonar and weapons systems. He later joked with German officers, saying, "They build excellent machines, but they assume all pilots are the size of torpedoes."
The German Ministry of Defence declined to comment, calling it a "non-event."
