Page 8 - The Indian EYE 061623

NATION JUNE 16, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

With Indus X, India and US make a major move

toward defense production & partnership

USIBC lauds the outcome of talks between US and India as the visit reflects the accelerating

convergence between the world’s oldest and largest democracies

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi
S Secretary of Defense Lloyd
Austin arrived in Delhi this
Uweek from Singapore. This
was Austin’s second visit to India since
March 2021. Terming the US-India
partnership as the “cornerstone” of a
free and open Indo-Pacific, US Sec-
retary of Defense Lloyd Austin said
this week that both countries have a
unique role in preserving the rules-
based international order.
During his meetings with Nation-
al Security Advisor Ajit Doval and
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the
US Secretary exchanged perspectives
on a range of regional security issues.
The two countries decided to launch
negotiations for two crucial agree-
ments related to the Security of Sup-
ply Arrangement and a Reciprocal
Defense Procurement in an effort to
establish stable supply chains of arms United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin inspects the Tri-Service Guard of Honor in New Delhi on Monday (ANI)
and equipment.
According to Pentagon, Lloyd He spoke about the establishment of ington,” he said. continued progress on tech release
Austin and Rajnath Singh also a new roadmap for defense industrial US-India Business Council under iCET and the startup linkag-
pledged to review regulatory hurdles cooperation between India and the (USIBC) has lauded the outcome of es created by the INDUS X defense
impeding closer industry-to-industry US, which will fast-track high priority talks between US Secretary of De- innovation bridge will empower in-
cooperation and to initiate negotia- co-development and co-production fense Lloyd Austin and Defense Min- dustry to further facilitate India’s
tions on these agreements. projects. ister Rajnath Singh and said the US role as a net security provider in the
Addressing a press conference US Defense Secretary said that leader’s visit reflects the accelerating Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
after holding wide-ranging talks with Rajnath Singh and he also spoke convergence between the world’s He said the discussions between
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, about Indus X that aims to enable oldest and largest democracies. the two sides reinforced the increas-
Austin said, “I had productive dis- partnerships between the US and In- In a statement, USIBC Pres- ing importance the US government
cussions today with Defense Minister dia in defense innovation sectors. ident Atul Keshap said the two is placing on India as a major com-
Singh and National Security Advisor “On this visit, I am pleased that sides had concluded a roadmap for mercial and defense partner and
Doval. As the world’s two largest we have taken new steps to strength- US-India Defense Industrial Co- talks continued on tech releasability
democracies, India and the United en our defense partnership. We es- operation. “USIBC applauds both issues between the two sides.
States play a unique role in preserv- tablished an ambitious new roadmap governments for establishing a new He said that the USIBC wel-
ing the rules-based international or- for defense industrial cooperation, roadmap for US-India defense in- comes the Security of Supply Chain
der that keeps us all secure.” which will fast track high priority dustrial cooperation. Our USIBC Agreement and a reciprocal defense
He further said, “Since I last co-development and co-production members include the top defense procurement agreement and stressed
visited India in 2021, our global and projects and build closer ties between firms in the world, producing so- that these were major calls from in-
strategic partnership has continued our defense industries,” Austin said. phisticated defense platforms that dustry during the initial public-pri-
to rapidly grow. Today, the US -India “We look forward to advancing can enhance Indian and Ameri- vate consultations under the Initiative
partnership is a cornerstone of a free some of those projects during the can capabilities in border security, on Critical and Emerging Technol-
and open Indo-Pacific, and our deep- upcoming visit between our leaders maritime domain awareness, space ogies (iCET) launched at the US
ening bonds show how technological later this month. We also discussed situational awareness, and more. Chamber of Commerce in January.
innovation and growing military co- an important new initiative, Indus X, Such strength helps ensure effective “These are vital steps in the de-
operation between two great powers that aims to jump start partnerships deterrence in an unsettled geostra- velopment of our high-trust ecosys-
can be a force for global good.” between the US and Indian defense tegic environment,” Keshap said. tem that will enable the private sec-
The US Defense Secretary said innovation sectors and we’re look- “Secretary Austin’s visit reflects tor to be even more ambitious,” he
that India and US have taken new ing forward to the formal launch of the accelerating convergence be- said. Keshap said USIBC will host
measures to strengthen the defense Indus X in conjunction with Prime tween the world’s oldest and largest the inaugural Indus X conference on
partnership between two countries. Minister Modi’s state visit to Wash- democracies. We are confident that June 20, 21 in Washington.

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