NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin convened in Washington DC today for a significant bilateral meeting to enhance defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, and regional security. The talks at the Pentagon underscored the deepening ties between India and the United States in the defence sector.
During the meeting, Rajnath Singh emphasized the potential for co-development and co-production in India, highlighting opportunities identified in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap adopted last year.
The discussions also celebrated the successful conclusion of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA), a pivotal agreement signed recently in Washington DC. SOSA is set to fortify the defence industrial ecosystems of both nations, bolstering supply chain resilience and collaboration.
A key highlight of the talks was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement concerning the deployment of Liaison Officers between the two countries.
As part of this agreement, India will station its first Liaison Officer at the Headquarters Special Operations Command in Florida, enhancing operational cooperation.
Both leaders also reviewed progress in operationalizing the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, a Quad initiative aimed at bolstering regional security. They praised India’s active participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and confirmed that Indian Navy personnel will be deployed to the CMF’s Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025.
The discussions further lauded the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which has been instrumental in establishing a Defense Innovation bridge between the two nations. With the upcoming INDUS-X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024, several key initiatives are expected to be announced, accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies in defence.
The meeting was preceded by a solemn wreath-laying ceremony by Rajnath Singh at Arlington National Cemetery. Both leaders expressed anticipation for their next engagement at the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.