Rajnath-Austin meets to resolve to expand strategic cooperation between the US, India.

India and the US on Saturday resolve to further expand their global defence and security cooperation including military-to-military engagement, information sharing, logistics support as both sides decided to work for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with  US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in  India on a two-day trip both addressed the media. Austin said, “I wanted to convey the Biden-Harris administration’s message about our strong commitment to our allies and partners.”

“I reaffirm our commitment to comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as the central pillar of our approach to the region,” Austin further said and added, “Indo-US relationship is a stronghold of free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Austin went on to add, “PM Modi stated India stands for freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce in adherence to international law. This reaffirms our shared vision for regional security.”

The two ministers held delegation-level talks and issued a joint statement. In his statement, Rajnath Singh said, “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.”

“I hope that US manufacturers will take advantage of India’s liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) policies in defence. We both agreed that there are opportunities for collaboration in the defence industry,” said Rajnath Singh.