Featured Image Credits: Twitter
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin III held wide-ranging talks on Saturday. The talks mainly focussed on a further expansion of bilateral strategic ties, the evolving scenario in the Indo-Pacific region and the shared challenges posed by terrorism.
“Had an excellent meeting in New Delhi today with my US counterpart, @SecDef Mr. Lloyd J. Austin on ways to strengthen India-US defence partnership. The India-US partnership in the field of Defence has acquired the dimensions of strategic partnership in the last decade”, Rajnath Singh tweeted.
Had an excellent meeting in New Delhi today with my US counterpart, @SecDef Mr. Lloyd J. Austin on ways to strengthen India-US defence partnership.
The India-US partnership in the field of Defence has acquired the dimensions of strategic partnership in the last decade. pic.twitter.com/W0rtna63D1
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 20, 2021
“We discussed today a range of issues with a focus on enhancing defence information sharing, cooperation in emerging domains of defence, mutual logistics support, and expanding military-to-military engagements across services”, Rajnath Singh tweeted.
“We are determined to expand India-US cooperation – from bilateral and multilateral exercises to developing closer bilateral linkages. We intend to pursue enhanced cooperation between the Indian military and US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command”, Singh added.
Speaking of the Quad initiative, Singh said in a tweet, “We both agreed that there are opportunities for collaboration in defence industry. The recent and first Leaders’ Summit of India, USA, Japan and Australia has emphasized our resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.”
“Today we reaffirmed that closer India-US cooperation in partnership with countries keen to uphold rules-based order, can promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond”, he tweeted.
India’s plan to procure thirty multi-mission armed predator drones at an estimated cost of $3 billion from the US for the three branches of the armed services is likely to have figured into the talks.
On Saturday morning, Austin visited the National War Memorial and paid tribute to India’s fallen soldiers. Before the talks, he was given a guard of honour at the Vigyan Bhavana Complex.
US Defence Secretary Austin is on a three-day visit to India. Austin arrived on Friday and met with PM Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval Friday evening. This is the first visit by a top official of the Biden administration to India.
India and the US are likely to discuss China and other important regional security issues, such as Afghanistan, during Secretary Austin’s visit.
“Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region”, Secretary Austin had tweeted on Friday.
Thrilled to be here in India. The breadth of cooperation between our two nations reflects the significance of our major defense partnership, as we work together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. pic.twitter.com/0wA88ERrDn
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) March 19, 2021
At Friday’s meetings, Secretary Austin reiterated the USA’s commitment towards strengthening the bilateral India-US relations. He also expressed the US’s strong desire to enhance the strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. He also commended India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific and the growing engagement with like-minded partners across the region to promote shared goals.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.