Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed concerns over the United States’ decision to provide a $450 million sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 jet fleet in a telephonic conversation with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the conversation with the Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh about a number of recent security events that interested both parties, particularly those in East Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
“I conveyed India’s concern at the recent U.S. decision to provide sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet,” Mr. Singh said on Twitter. “Had a warm and productive conversation with Mr. Austin and … discussed growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defense and security cooperation” he added.
In the meantime, the Secretary congratulated Rajnath Singh on the INS Vikrant’s commissioning in the statement, highlighting the event’s significance for India’s position as a provider of security in the Indo-Pacific.
As the US and Indian military operate and coordinate more closely, the two defense leaders committed to enhancing information sharing and logistics collaboration.
They both decided to start a conversation later this year to further their bilateral cooperation in the fields of space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and other emerging areas of defense.
Secretary Austin and Minister Singh made a point of emphasizing their dedication to boosting defense technology and industrial collaboration in order to enable India’s ascent to the position of a regional security supplier and industry leader.
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