India and the United States engaged in extensive discussions on Friday to strengthen their global strategic partnership, focusing on deepening defense industrial ties, increasing involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, and fostering collaboration in critical sectors like critical minerals and high technology.
The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, participated in the 2+2 ministerial talks. On the Indian side, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh led the discussions.
Jaishankar expressed that the dialogue aimed to advance the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden for a forward-looking partnership and a joint global agenda. The talks explored cooperation in emerging areas such as critical technologies, civil outer space collaboration, and critical minerals.
Blinken highlighted the commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the strengthening of the US-India partnership through the Quad. He underlined the focus on promoting a rules-based order and upholding principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence to ensure international peace and security.
Rajnath Singh emphasized the growing strategic convergence and enhanced defense cooperation in the bilateral relationship, citing defense cooperation as a crucial pillar. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with the US in capability building across various domains.
US Defense Secretary Austin stressed the importance of exchanging views and finding common goals between the two largest democracies, especially in the face of urgent global challenges. He highlighted the strengthening ties as a source of hope for a more secure world through collaborative efforts.
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