Senior officials from the US and India reviewed the ongoing defence initiatives between the two countries and explored new avenues of cooperation at the 21st edition of the India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting held in New Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The meeting, co-chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lieutenant General J.P. Mathew and Deputy Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd discussed a wide range of topics, including capacity building, training exchanges, defence industrial cooperation, and the advancement of joint exercises that enhance preparedness for conventional and hybrid threats.
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“Both sides emphasised the importance of the Indo-US defence partnership and committed to strengthening this strategic relationship through proactive engagement and enhanced interoperability,” a defence ministry release stated.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the scope of Indo-US military cooperation with a shared understanding of the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
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India-US Military Cooperation Group is a forum that aims at enhancing defence cooperation and fostering strategic and operational defence collaboration between the armed forces of both countries.
“The 21st MCG meeting represents a step forward in advancing the shared objectives of India and the US to ensure regional and global security, counter emerging threats and build mutual capabilities,” the defence ministry added.