Rajnath Singh-Lloyd Austin meet: India, US agree to tap full potential of key pacts
By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Mar 20, 2021, 3:12 PM ISTThe joint statement noted that the two nations called for taking steps to ensure that agreements like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement realise their full potential for mutual benefit.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III met Defence Minister Rajanth Singh in the latter's South Block office where the two leaders reviewed a host of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.
The joint statement noted that the two nations called for taking steps to ensure that agreements like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement realise their full potential for mutual benefit.
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Rajnath informed his US counterpart that India was keen on working together to realise the full potential of the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
Rajnath said that the recent Quad (India, US, Japan and Australia) Leaders Summit reiterated the resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
"We discussed the need for enhanced capacity building to address some of the non-traditional challenges such as oil spills and environmental disasters, drug trafficking, Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fishing, etc," he said.
Both countries also agreed to further explore opportunities for collaboration in the defence industry.
In his remarks, Austin reiterated the US commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of its approach to the region.
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