India, US discuss new defence domains

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2

India and the US have discussed the growing military partnership, including through enhanced cooperation in new defence domains such as space, cyber and emerging technologies.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, during his first visit to the Pentagon, on Friday exchanged views on priorities for advancing the Indo-US relationship with US Secretary Defense Lloyd J Austin.

Secretary Austin underscored the US commitment to supporting the Indian armed forces’ transition toward greater institutional integration and operational jointness. They also discussed opportunities for expanding multilateral cooperation with regional partnership, a statement of the US said.

The two countries work in concert with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific, it added.

Meanwhile, in a separate development in India it was announced that the two countries have decided to set up a joint working group in defence industrial security that will develop protocol for exchange of classified information between defence industries of both countries.

The group will meet regularly to align policies for defence industries to collaborate on critical defence technologies, this was announced on Friday after a five-day meeting between the two sides. The Indian side was led by the Designated Security Authority Anurag Bajpai while David Paul Bagnati represented the US.

The Industrial Security Agreement (ISA) was signed between the two countries in December 2019 to facilitate the exchange of classified information between the defence industries of both countries. It was held to create a roadmap for the implementation of the ISA. The DSAs also visited Indian defence industries in preparation for a roadmap.

Rawat, Austin meet

• Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat exchanges views with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin
• Both nations aim to enhance cooperation in space, cyber and emerging technologies

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