Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the White House on August 23, 2024. They discussed the evolving geopolitical landscape and regional security concerns. The meeting also focused on ongoing defense industrial collaborations and potential areas for future cooperation between India and the US.
Later, Singh engaged with senior leaders of the US defence industry at a round table hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC. He emphasised India’s readiness to welcome US investments and technology collaborations, highlighting the country’s skilled workforce, pro-business environment, and expansive domestic market.
Singh also held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including bilateral defense cooperation, industrial collaboration, and regional security. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the conclusion of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and the Memorandum of Agreement for the deployment of Liaison Officers.
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The meeting also saw appreciation for the progress made in the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative and India’s participation in the Combined Maritime Forces. The two ministers lauded the efforts of the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) and looked forward to the upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024.
Singh presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before the Pentagon meeting. Both leaders expressed their anticipation for the next India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.