Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a bilateral meeting in Pentagon, Washington DC on Friday with a focus on enhancing defence cooperation between the two nations. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including industrial collaboration, regional security, and other pressing international issues.
According to the press release, during the meeting, Singh emphasised the potential for co-development and co-production in India's defence sector, particularly in areas outlined in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, which was adopted last year. He highlighted opportunities for collaboration that could strengthen the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries.
Rajnath Singh, Lloyd Austin Discuss Signing Of SOSA, Other Key Pacts
A significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) on Thursday. This agreement aims to foster collaboration between the defence industries of India and the US, enhancing the resilience of supply chains—a critical aspect of modern defence operations.
Additionally, the ministers welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) concerning the deployment of Liaison Officers. India will also be sending its first Liaison Officer to the US Special Operations Command headquarters in Florida.
In their discussion, Singh and Austin also appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative, a Quad project aimed at strengthening maritime security in the region. They admitted India's ongoing efforts to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness for its partners in the Indian Ocean Region, an area of strategic importance.
Further strengthening ties, the ministers noted the active participation of India in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). India is set to deploy Indian Navy personnel to the CMF’s Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025, reflecting the growing maritime cooperation between the two nations.
The meeting also appreciated the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which has been instrumental in creating a Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries. The INDUS-X has established strong networks across start-ups, industry, academia, and government sectors, promoting the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of both sides. The upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024 is expected to feature several key initiatives.
During the Pentagon meeting, Rajnath Singh participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Both leaders expressed their anticipation for continued dialogue, looking forward to the next India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.