Rajnath Singh In US: Defence Minister Interacts With Indian Diaspora. Check What's On Agenda During 4-Day Trip

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in the US for a four-day visit, where he will meet with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss bilateral ties.

Singh is scheduled to chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry on ongoing and future defence collaborations (Image:X/@rajnathsingh)

Source : Source:X

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in Washington for a four-day visit to the United States (US) beginning Friday to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries. Defence Minister Singh, who is visiting America at the invitation of the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, is set to hold a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and also meet the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan among other leaders.

After he arrived in Washington on Thursday evening, Singh interacted with the Indian community and said that Indians can't cheat others because "deceit is not in our character". Addressing members of the Indian diaspora in the US, the Defence Minister said their dedication to America as expats should not be questioned.

Had a lively interaction with the Indian community at Washington DC. It’s heartwarming to see how the Indian community continues to cherish and uphold their cultural values and maintain their connection to their roots. pic.twitter.com/4qPFfzNwmX

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 23, 2024

"I would like to tell Indian members working here to work with full honesty. You should be dedicated to India, but since you are working here, your dedication to America should also not be questioned. Only then will the perceptions of Indians be good," he said.

Singh is also scheduled to chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry on the ongoing and future defence collaborations later.

Singh's visit to the US comes in the backdrop of the growing momentum in India-US relations and defence engagements at multiple levels. "The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," the Ministry of Defence stated before the Minister's departure.

India's plan to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, the proposed joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and co-production of GE F414 engines in India are likely to figure prominently in Singh's talks with Austin, news agency PTI reported quoting officials in New Delhi.

India and the United States have hailed progress on bilateral defence initiatives following the fifth annual India-US two plus two Ministerial Dialogue in November 2023.

Washington has also committed to supporting India's military modernization, initiatives to drive forward the US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation, strengthening maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region, and India's support for the rule of law in the Arabian Sea and adjacent waterways.

Sullivan also visited India in June this year as both countries took the next steps in strategic technology and defence cooperation during the third term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.