Improving convergence with America to counter China, says Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh said at a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lyod Austin on Friday.
In a bilateral meeting that followed the 2+2 dialogue between the defence and foreign affairs ministers, Singh discussed a wide range of strategic issues, including enhancing cooperation in high end defence technology.
In his opening remarks, Singh made a rare, direct reference to Chinese aggression.
India and China have been in a tense border standoff since 2020 after PLA troops moved to forward locations along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.
«The India-US defence relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership. We increasingly find ourselves in agreement on strategic issues, including in countering China's aggression and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific,» Singh said.
«Our strategic convergence should guide us to new domains and expand the scope of our collaboration,» he added.
Officials said particular focus in the bilateral talks was on enhancing defence industrial cooperation and getting the defence industries from both sides together to co-develop and co-produce defence systems.
Secretary Austin said that talks are on to co-produce an infantry combat vehicle in India. Speaking after the dialogue, Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane confirmed that discussions on the project are progressing and the case is being moved ahead.
Aramane added that on a pact for producing the GE 414 fighter jet engine in India, a commercial arrangement is being finalised and necessary legal requirements are being put in place. Similarly, he said that talks on acquiring the MQ 9 Predator drones in of track and the US companies involved are taking the required clearances from their government.
A joint statement
