WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden in his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the strength for defense relationships and unshakable commitments to India as the main defense partner, said the foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
President Biden welcomed the Prime Minister of Modi to the White House on Friday.
The meeting of the two leaders in the Oval office lasted more than 90 minutes, instead of the 60 minutes scheduled.
“President Biden reiterated the strength for unshakable defense and commitment to India as the Main Defense Partner.
The leaders welcomed the deepening of advanced industrial cooperation in the defense sector,” said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters at a joint press conference on the day Friday.
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During the meeting at the Oval Office of the White House, he said, there was an emphasis on shared development, joint production and expanding industrial cooperation areas in the defense sector.
After concluding four main defense agreements since 2016, that.
The United States and India have made significant progress as the main defense and American partners hoping to further improve information sharing, bilateral and multilateral exercises, maritime security cooperation, connecting liaison officials, and logistical cooperation, the White House said in fact sheets.
From US-Indian defense technology and trade initiatives (DTTI), the United States and Indi A agreed upon in July to a $ 22 million project to develop unmanned air vehicles launched in the air.
DTTI currently includes four working groups, and the next senior official meeting this year will further expand the collaboration of the defense industry, he said.
The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulders with the Indian military, after offering advanced capabilities, such as fan fighter planes F / A-18, F-21, and F-21; MQ-9B unmanned air system; IADWS missile system; And additional P-8i maritime patrol planes, he said.
The ability of Airlift Strategic Premier India allows its military to provide critical humanitarian operations and evacuation operations to the Indian Ocean region and so on.
According to fact sheets, the US Air Force and US company Lockheed Martin (LM) recently concluded a $ 329 million contract to provide maintenance for the Indian C-130J aircraft fleet.
“This agreement will help support work in both countries while increasing the ability of Indian strategic airlift,” he said.
The Indian Air Force operates the second largest C-17 fleet in the world behind the United States, recently signed a maintenance contract extended $ 637 million with the US Boeing company that supports work in both countries, he said.
In June, Lockheed Martin gave two Multi MPH-60R India’s first maritime helicopters.
These platforms are assembled in Troy, Alabama, and Stratford, Connecticut, and are integrated in Owego, New York, and allows India access to the global supply chain of multi-role helicopters.
“As the second largest operator of P-8i Poseidon Patrol Patrols in the world, India is a maritime partner that is valued at the Indo-Pacific and so on.
The US company Boeing delivered the tenth P-8i aircraft to the Indian Navy in July 2021, and aircraft 11 It is expected to be delivered in October, “the White House said.
In 2020, India and the United States renewed their commitment to support effective nuclear security globally, through the Indian global center for nuclear energy partnerships and multilateral partners such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We will continue a joint effort to prevent the proliferation of nuclear materials,” he said.