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India US Defense Ministers hold bilateral meeting in Washington DC
Austin and Singh reviewed progress in several bilateral defense initiatives.
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Rajnath Singh and Lloyd J. Austin III. / X @rajnathsingh
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh to the Pentagon on Aug. 23 for a bilateral meeting.
According to government statements, the discussion focused on advancing the Major Defense Partnership between the United States and India and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Austin and Singh reviewed progress in several bilateral defense initiatives, including enhancing supply chain security, improving maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and utilizing a new agreement to boost operational coordination with Indian liaison officers at U.S. commands.
They agreed to advance key co-production projects, such as jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems, under the U.S.-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation, the official release stated.
Additionally, the Ministers also held discussions on expanding cooperation in the undersea and space domains and welcomed the continued implementation of the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which will hold its third summit in Silicon Valley this September.
Austin and Singh commended the completion of the Security of Supply Arrangement, which will enhance the integration of the defense industrial ecosystems of both countries and bolster supply chain resilience.
Secretary Austin praised the Indian Navy's significant role in supporting freedom of navigation and regional security through its involvement in the Combined Maritime Forces. He also welcomed India's upcoming leadership of Combined Task Force 150 in 2025.
Both ministers reviewed their joint efforts under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which provides Indian Ocean Region partners with unclassified commercial satellite data to improve maritime security and detect illicit activities.
Later in the day, Singh met National Security Advisor of the United States Jake Sullivan and interacted with leading US defense companies at the Defence Industry – Roundtable organized by the US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
Had fruitful interaction with leading U.S. defence companies at the Defence Industry – Roundtable organised by @USISPF (US India Strategic Partnership Forum).
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 24, 2024
Invited them to work with Indian partners to accelerate our Make in India program towards achieving Atmanirbharta in… pic.twitter.com/3CTXLw3Lfy
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