Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met with US Secretary of the Army, Daniel P Driscoll in New Delhi to discuss enhancing defense cooperation and military engagement. The Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information highlighted the focus on strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and reinforcing the commitment to global peace and security during the meeting. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed Driscoll to New Delhi earlier, emphasizing the warm relations between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently spoke with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to review areas of cooperation, including civil nuclear energy, trade discussions, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The discussion encompassed various topics such as trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defense, and energy, with both sides agreeing to maintain communication on these matters. The United States expressed interest in leveraging India’s recent legislation on nuclear energy to enhance civil nuclear cooperation and strengthen energy security ties.
The diplomats also touched upon ongoing bilateral trade negotiations and emphasized the importance of economic collaboration. They shared perspectives on regional developments, underscoring their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The defense cooperation between India and the US is governed by the “New Framework for India-US Defense Cooperation,” which was extended for 10 years in 2015. The relationship was elevated to a Major Defense Partnership in 2016, with India being included in Tier-1 of the US Department of Commerce’s Strategic Trade Authorisation license exception in 2018. The multifaceted defense collaboration involves regular bilateral dialogues, joint military exercises, and defense procurements.
