India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on August 23, 2024, at the White House in Washington D.C. During their discussions, they focused on geopolitical and regional security concerns, as well as explored opportunities for defense industrial collaboration and potential industry partnerships.
Minister Singh also held discussions with senior leaders of the US defense industry at a roundtable organized by US India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington DC.
“He outlined the various emerging co-development and co-production opportunities in the defense sector in India,” noted a statement from Press Information Bureau. “The progressive reforms undertaken by the Government of India have encouraged many foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers, including from the US, to set up manufacturing units in India, develop Joint Ventures, and also to make India their alternate export base. The planned co-production of GE 414 aero-engines in India shall be a significant milestone in India-US bilateral relations.”
Minister Singh emphasized that “Partnership,” and “Joint Efforts,” are key elements that set India’s defense industry collaboration apart from others.
At the meeting, he engaged with senior leaders from major US defense and technology companies like Boeing, GE, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, as well as Indian companies like Tata Sons.
The Minister also met with members of US-India Business Council (USIBC), where USIBC President, Ambassador Atul Keshap praised Minister Singh’s efforts in furthering US-India defense relations, including the signing of Security of Supplies Arrangement.
