Cebu (Philippines), Oct 28 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday held talks with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), with both sides reviewing the progress of their 10-year defence framework and exploring ways to deepen military cooperation.
During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the progress of the India-US Major Defence Partnership and discussed ways to enhance operational readiness, technology sharing and defence industrial integration, according to an official statement.
The discussions also covered regional security and counter-terrorism, with both countries reiterating their commitment to eliminating the global menace of terrorism.
Singh emphasised the need for a zero-tolerance approach towards countries that support, train or fund terrorist organisations.
Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ support for India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, while Singh expressed appreciation for Washington’s continued support.
The two leaders also discussed expanding military-to-military exchanges, strengthening maritime security cooperation and developing robust defence supply chains to deepen collaboration between their defence industries.
They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral defence ties and advance the partnership towards greater strategic convergence.
In a post on X following the meeting, Singh described the India-US partnership as a cornerstone for a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region.
The meeting took place in Cebu, Philippines, on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus, a regional platform bringing together ASEAN member states and dialogue partners to discuss defence and security cooperation.—(NVI)
