Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India, met with the US Secretary of Defence, Mr. Lloyd Austin, in New Delhi today. The bilateral meeting, held on June 5th, 2023, was characterized by warmth and cordiality as the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral defence cooperation.
One of the key focal points of the discussion was the identification of opportunities to strengthen industrial cooperation between the two nations. Both sides recognized the importance of building resilient supply chains and explored ways to achieve this objective. Additionally, they delved into the prospects of co-developing new technologies and co-producing existing and new defence systems. The ministers also emphasized the need to facilitate increased collaboration between the defence start-up ecosystems of the United States and India.
To guide their efforts in the coming years, the two ministers concluded a roadmap for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation. This roadmap will serve as a guiding framework, defining the policy direction for the future.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the robust and multifaceted bilateral defence cooperation activities and expressed their commitment to maintaining the momentum of engagement. They applauded the recently held inaugural dialogues on Defence Artificial Intelligence and Defence Space, which showcased the growing depth of the defence relationship between the two countries.
Given their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the ministers also discussed regional security issues. They acknowledged the significance of collaborative efforts in addressing these challenges effectively.
The meeting witnessed the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, Secretary, of the Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr. Samir V Kamat.
The Tri-Service Guard of Honour was extended to Secretary Austin preceding the delegation-level talks. The US Secretary of Defence arrived in New Delhi on June 4th, 2023, for a two-day visit.
