WASHINGTON -- The Sept. 6 “two-plus-two” dialogue in New
Delhi between Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James
N. Mattis and their Indian counterparts provided “a demonstrable signal of the
U.S. and India’s shared commitment to a forward-looking strategic partnership
based on shared values and strategic interests,” chief Pentagon spokesperson
Dana W. White said.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hosted Pompeo and Mattis for the first such talks
between the United States and India.
“Both sides welcomed the signing of the Communications
Compatibility and Security Agreement, an agreement that will deepen our
interoperability and facilitate India’s access to advanced defense systems,”
White said in a statement summarizing the talks. “They also look forward to
initiating negotiations on the Industrial Security Annex, a second enabling
agreement that will facilitate greater defense industrial cooperation.”
The United States reaffirmed the strategic importance of
India’s designation as a major defense partner, and the ministers committed to
expanding the scope of that status to encompass greater strategic and security
coordination, White said. They also welcomed the establishment of a new
tri-service military exercise as a tangible commitment to increase
military-to-military ties and growing interoperability, she added.
Importance of Defense Trade and Innovation
“Both sides acknowledged the increasing importance of
defense trade and defense innovation in our strategic partnership,” White said.
“Towards that end, the ministers welcomed the signing of a memorandum of intent
between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and the Indian Defence Innovation
Organization - Innovation for Defence.”
The ministers also committed to start exchanges between U.S.
Naval Forces Central Command and the Indian navy, underscoring the importance
of deepening their maritime cooperation in the western Indian Ocean, White
said.
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