Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra’s visit to the United States this week has sparked discussions on further strengthening the bilateral strategic ties between the two countries. Kwatra met with several senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks, to review progress and discuss shared efforts to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the meetings, Kwatra and Hicks discussed priorities for enhancing the US-India defence partnership, including the implementation of the roadmap for the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation. They highlighted the historic momentum in the Major Defence Partnership in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The officials also applauded the efforts to advance co-production of fighter jet engines and armoured vehicles, as well as the success of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem in promoting innovation and partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries.
Kwatra and Hicks emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of US-India military engagements to strengthen cooperation across all domains. They also discussed regional security issues and committed to collaborating closely in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, particularly in light of China’s aggressive moves in the region.
The visit by Kwatra is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and aims to further advance the growing and future-oriented partnership. The discussions during the visit covered a wide range of topics, including defence and commercial ties, supply chain resilience, and contemporary regional developments.
Overall, Kwatra’s visit to the US has provided an opportunity to deepen cooperation and strengthen ties between India and the United States in various key areas, including defence, technology, and commerce.