US defense chief hails ties with India

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday lauded US relations with India during a meeting with his Indian counterpart at the Pentagon.

"We're meeting at a time of great momentum in the US India partnership. We share a vision of a free and open Indo Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger," Austin said at a meeting with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Austin said the countries are expanding defense-industrial ties and working to co-produce more capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Singh, for his part, said India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering "almost all areas of human endeavor."

"This is driven by shared democratic value, convergence of interest on a range of issues, and vibrant people-to-people contact. I can see our bilateral relationship has also seen a growing convergence of strategic interest and enhanced defense security and industrial cooperation," he added.

The meeting came a day after the US and India signed a non-binding security of supply arrangement to ensure the provision of goods and services critical to national security.

Through the pact, the US and India agree to provide reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defense.

The arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from each other to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs.