National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Monday met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is on a two-day visit to India, and discussed ways to boost cooperation in maritime, military and aerospace technologies.
The two officials also discussed ways for greater transfer of technology, co-production and indigenous building capacities in line with India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, sources said.
Doval and the US Defence Secretary also discussed ways to take a strategic approach to global challenges through government, people to people and societal relations.
The two leaders also decided to ensure that countries in different regions like Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, and Indo-Pacific retain their freedom of action in line with their national priorities and are not coerced into making poor choices.
Secretary Austin’s trip comes over two weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington during which the two sides are expected to unveil initiatives to expand the India-US global strategic partnership.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held talks with Lloyd Austin and said that India-US partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region.
It is Secretary Austin’s second visit to India. His previous trip to India was in March, 2021.
The two countries have inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.
(With Inputs from Shailendra Wangu)
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