On the sidelines of Aero India 2023, held in Bengaluru on 12 February 2023, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane held bilateral meetings with three defence delegations. The Aero India show is one of Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibitions and attracts participation from a number of countries, including India, the US, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The first meeting was held with Mr Engr Turki Saad, General Manager of Industrial Relations from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a number of bilateral defence cooperation issues. The meeting was an opportunity for the two nations to strengthen their defence ties and explore ways to enhance their cooperation in the future.
The delegation also included Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, Charge d’affairs of the US Embassy, and Maj Gen Julian Cheator, US Air Force. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of ongoing and future defence cooperation issues. The US is participating in Aero India with a number of officials, companies and aircraft, highlighting the importance of their engagement with India in the aerospace and defence sector.
Finally, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane met with a delegation from Oman led by HE Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence. The two sides reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation between the two nations and discussed possible opportunities for increasing the depth and scope of their engagements. The meeting was a step towards further strengthening the defence ties between India and Oman.
The bilateral meetings held by Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 were an important opportunity to enhance defence cooperation with three important nations. These meetings will contribute to the further strengthening of India’s defence relationships with these countries and open up new avenues for future cooperation in the aerospace and defence sector.
