U.S., India to Be Partners on World Stage, Carter Says

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2013 – Because they share common values and outlooks on a wide range of issues, the United States and India are destined to be partners on the world stage, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Indian officials during a visit there this week, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter holds a news conference on the final day of his visit to New Delhi, Sept. 18, 2013. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

In a statement summarizing the deputy secretary’s visit, Little said Carter met with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Defense Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur.

Carter discussed with Indian officials the forthcoming meeting in Washington between President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and steps toward deepening the multifaceted U.S.-Indian defense relationship.

“They held in-depth consultations on the ongoing political and security transitions in Afghanistan and other regional security issues, common multilateral engagements, joint military exercises, and the significant and growing defense trade between the two countries,” Little said. “They discussed steps the United States and India are taking to streamline their respective administrative processes and make bilateral defense trade more responsive and effective.”

In addition to these meetings, the press secretary said, Carter was briefed by Indian air force pilots on India's co-produced C-130J transport aircraft and recently procured C-17 cargo jets. He also hosted a meeting of senior representatives from the U.S. and Indian defense industries that focused on additional steps the United States can take to remove barriers to bilateral defense trade, he added.