Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus at Vientiane, Lao PDR, on Thursday. Both leaders welcomed ongoing efforts to deepen the military partnership and interoperability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
It is always a matter of immense joy to meet my friend, Lloyd Austin. He has been a great friend to India. His contribution towards strengthening India-US defence partnership has been exemplary. I wish him very best in all his future endeavours. @SecDef pic.twitter.com/J5PoPQnt95
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 21, 2024
Singh and Austin hailed the progress made by the India-US defence partnership, based on increased operational coordination, information-sharing, and industrial innovation. Both sides recognised the remarkable progress made under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems.
Defence Minister Singh recalled his recent visit to the US in August, during which two important documents were concluded – the Security of Supplies Agreement, and the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the deployment of Liaison Officers.
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Singh emphasised the need for India and US to work together on the agreed deliverables including the new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, and the launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project, to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region.
Both sides affirmed support to the growing defence innovation collaboration between the two governments, businesses, and academic institutions fostered by India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, by providing them with more joint challenges, funding opportunities and visibility. The two leaders agreed to continue the momentum gained in the last two and a half years through growing convergence to strategic interests and enhanced India-US defence cooperation.
In a post on X, Shri Rajnath Singh termed Secretary Lloyd Austin as a great friend to India, whose contribution towards strengthening the India-US defence partnership has been exemplary.
