New Delhi: India and the US focused on expanding their military engagement during the recent meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the US Secretary of Defence, General Lloyd Austin, a joint statement said today.
The talks between the two focussed on ‘wide-ranging defence cooperation, expanding military to military engagement, info sharing & cooperation in emerging areas of defence & mutual logistics support,’ said Rajnath Singh.
Austin called India ‘an increasingly important partner in the rapidly shifting international dynamics’ and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to a ‘comprehensive forward-looking defence partnership with India’ for its approach to the Indo-Pacific region.
‘Our relationship is a stronghold of free & open Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi stated India stands for freedom of navigation & freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce in adherence to international law. This reaffirms our shared vision for regional security,’ Austin added.