Pentagon after Rajnath Singh’s visit: Will work on deepening defense relations
NEW DELHI: India and the US will intensify their ongoing efforts to “resolve key Defence partnership” between the two countries to support a “free and open” Indo-PacificThe Pentagon said on Saturday.
The crucial Indo-Pacific, the evolving geopolitical situation and key regional security issues were the focus of discussion between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington on Friday. “We exchanged perspectives on key strategic issues of mutual interest,” Singh said.
The discussion after the meeting at delegation level between Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin on measures to strengthen bilateral defence cooperationindustrial cooperation and military interoperability, took place against the backdrop of China’s continued aggressive expansionist behavior in the South and East China Seas and on its land borders with India.
Singh and Sullivan also discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation projects in the field of defence industry and possible areas where the industries of both countries could work together, an Indian official said.
Speaking to heads of leading US defense companies, Singh said India wants to work closely with the country to build capabilities and establish technology and industrial partnerships across all areas of defense to meet new challenges.
“The minister stressed that India welcomes investment and technological collaboration with the US and stands ready with a skilled human resource base, a robust foreign direct investment and business-friendly ecosystem and a large domestic market,” the official said.
The Pentagon, in turn, said the meeting between Singh and Austin “celebrated” progress on several bilateral defense initiatives, including efforts to increase supply chain security, improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean and use the new agreement to strengthen operational coordination by sending Indian liaison officers to U.S. commands.
“They agreed to advance priority co-production projects under the India-US roadmap for defence industrial cooperation. They also advanced discussions on expanding cooperation in the submarine and space sectors,” it said.
The crucial Indo-Pacific, the evolving geopolitical situation and key regional security issues were the focus of discussion between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington on Friday. “We exchanged perspectives on key strategic issues of mutual interest,” Singh said.
The discussion after the meeting at delegation level between Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin on measures to strengthen bilateral defence cooperationindustrial cooperation and military interoperability, took place against the backdrop of China’s continued aggressive expansionist behavior in the South and East China Seas and on its land borders with India.
Singh and Sullivan also discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation projects in the field of defence industry and possible areas where the industries of both countries could work together, an Indian official said.
Speaking to heads of leading US defense companies, Singh said India wants to work closely with the country to build capabilities and establish technology and industrial partnerships across all areas of defense to meet new challenges.
“The minister stressed that India welcomes investment and technological collaboration with the US and stands ready with a skilled human resource base, a robust foreign direct investment and business-friendly ecosystem and a large domestic market,” the official said.
The Pentagon, in turn, said the meeting between Singh and Austin “celebrated” progress on several bilateral defense initiatives, including efforts to increase supply chain security, improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean and use the new agreement to strengthen operational coordination by sending Indian liaison officers to U.S. commands.
“They agreed to advance priority co-production projects under the India-US roadmap for defence industrial cooperation. They also advanced discussions on expanding cooperation in the submarine and space sectors,” it said.
