"Rajnath Singh Praises US-India Defence Agreements, Focuses on Enhanced Maritime and Operational Ties"
- In Reports
- 09:10 PM, Aug 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held a productive meeting on 23rd August, focusing on advancing the Major Defence Partnership between the United States and India. The discussions centred on supporting a "free and open Indo-Pacific region," as highlighted in a statement from the US Department of Defence.
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder reported that the two officials celebrated progress across several bilateral defence initiatives. Key topics included efforts to enhance supply chain security, bolster maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and leverage a new agreement to improve operational coordination through Indian liaison officers at US commands.
The concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" was outlined by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in a 2022 speech. It emphasizes a rules-based international order, sustainable infrastructure investment, freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce, mutual respect for sovereignty, peaceful dispute resolution, and equality among nations.
In a social media post on platform X, Defence Minister Singh described the meeting as "excellent" and praised the signing of two significant defence agreements with the US as "pathbreaking." He noted, "We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further."
Singh specifically highlighted the significance of the Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning Indian officers at key US commands. He described these developments as "path-breaking."
The defence ties between India and the US have been strengthening, marked by increased military-to-military interactions and a surge in defence trade, which grew from near zero in 2008 to over $20 billion in 2020. Co-production and co-development have become central to this partnership. Notably, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit in June 2023, General Electric announced plans to co-produce F-414 fighter jet engines with India's Hindustan Aeronautics.
According to the Pentagon, Singh and Austin agreed to advance priority co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems, under the U.S.-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation. They also discussed expanding cooperation in undersea and space domains and welcomed the ongoing implementation of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which will hold its third summit in Silicon Valley this September.
The officials commended the Indian Navy’s contributions to upholding freedom of navigation and regional security through its role in the Combined Maritime Forces. They also welcomed India’s upcoming leadership role in Combined Task Force 150 in 2025. Additionally, they reviewed mutual efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative, which provides Indian Ocean Region partners with unclassified, commercial satellite data to enhance maritime security and detect illicit activities.
During his visit, Defence Minister Singh also paid his respects at the Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
Image source: ANI
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