India and US Hold Talks to Strengthen Defence and Military Partnership
India's Army Chief met US Secretary of the Army in New Delhi to discuss deepening defence ties and military cooperation.
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll in New Delhi on Sunday to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing military-to-military engagement between the two countries. The discussions emphasised reinforcing both armies’ commitment to global peace and security, according to the Indian Army’s public information directorate.
The visit follows a warm welcome extended by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who highlighted the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. The engagement forms part of a broader US-India dialogue on defence, trade, and regional security, reflecting the evolving strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, reviewing areas including civil nuclear energy, trade, and regional security. Both sides expressed interest in leveraging India’s new nuclear energy legislation to strengthen US-India cooperation in energy, critical minerals, and related economic sectors.
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Defence ties between India and the US are guided by the “New Framework for India-US Defence Cooperation,” renewed for ten years in 2015. The relationship, designated a Major Defence Partnership in 2016, also includes India’s Tier-1 status under the US Strategic Trade Authorisation licence exception, facilitating smoother defence and technology transfers.
Bilateral defence engagement spans regular institutionalised dialogue, joint exercises, training programs, and defence procurement collaborations. The recent meeting underscores both nations’ commitment to expanding joint military capabilities, improving interoperability, and responding effectively to regional and global security challenges.
Officials emphasised that these talks are part of an ongoing effort to consolidate strategic relations, with defence cooperation acting as a cornerstone for broader bilateral ties. The two countries continue to explore avenues for enhanced collaboration, from advanced defence technology sharing to coordinated responses in the Indo-Pacific theatre.
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