Indian Foreign Secretary meets US Under Defense Secretary

Indian Foreign Secretary meets US Under Defense Secretary, discussion on advancing defense cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra met Colin Kahl, the US Under Secretary of Defense in charge of policy affairs, and the two senior officials discussed how to further advance bilateral defense cooperation.

At the same time, both sides underscored the importance of the ‘India-US Key Defense Partnership’ which has helped shape the future of the Indo-Pacific region.

Kwatra is currently on an official visit to the US.

He met Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Monday and discussed Indo-US relations and ways to advance their bilateral security and regional cooperation, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, and Ukraine.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Kahal and Kwatra discussed initiatives to advance bilateral defense cooperation ahead of the next ‘2+2’ ministerial meeting in New Delhi, a media release said.

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Kahal tweeted, “Had a pleasant meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary VM Kwatra this afternoon.

We discussed a range of bilateral initiatives, including advancing the US-India defense partnership and promoting a “free and independent Indo-Pacific.”

Pentagon spokesman Lt Col David Herndon said, “The two leaders discussed the Indian Ocean region. and exchanged views on developments related to mutual security interests, including in Europe.

Expanding information sharing and logistics cooperation to facilitate operational coordination between the US and Indian forces, and accelerating India’s indigenous defense production through bilateral defense industrial cooperation and partnership in emerging defense areas.

Since its inception in 2018, the ‘2+2’ ministerial forum has allowed the US and India to work towards building an advanced, comprehensive defense partnership that is ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The Pentagon had earlier said that the US has a very close partnership and defense relationship with India and that the two countries will continue to work together to further develop that relationship.