India, US Enjoy A Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership: Rajnath Singh In Washington

Highlighting the deepening ties between India and the US, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Washington on Friday, underlined the increasing cooperation in defence and industrial sectors between the two democracies.

During his four-day official visit, Singh met with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington and discussed ways to strengthen this relationship. In his opening remarks, Singh noted that the bilateral relationship between India and the United States has seen a growing convergence of strategic interests.

‘Global strategic partnership’

“…India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour… Our bilateral relationship has seen a growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defence, security and industrial cooperation,” the defence minister said.

“Our leaders share an excellent repo and are working together on several global issues apart from vast and growing bilateral relations. We have had regular high-level interactions and that includes PM (Narendra) Modi’s state visit to the US in June where he also addressed the joint sitting of US Congress. President (Joe) Biden visited India in September 2023 to attend the G20 leaders summit. PM Modi met President Biden on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Italy,” he noted.

During his meeting with the US Secretary of Defence on Friday, Singh reviewed existing defence cooperation activities between the two countries and discussed ways to deepen it further.

“Excellent meeting with my dear friend @SecDef Lloyd Austin. We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further. The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments,” Singh said in a post on X.

Meeting Jake Sullivan

Rajnath Singh also met the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington and shared perspectives on “key” strategic matters of mutual interest. “Delighted to meet the National Security Advisor of the United States @jakesullivan and share perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest,” Singh said in a post on X after his meeting on Friday. He also had a “fruitful” exchange with leading US defence companies and invited them to work with Indian partners to accelerate the Make in India programme.

Singh arrived here on Thursday on a four-day official visit to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries. Singh also interacted with the Indian community during the visit. While interacting with the Indian diaspora here, Singh described India and the US as “natural allies”, which are “destined to be strong partners”, and this collaboration is growing continuously.