Rajnath Singh Invites US Companies To India For Manufacturing And Maintenance Of Defence Equipment

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (11 April) invited American companies to India for setting up facilities for manufacturing and maintenance of defence equipment.

Singh, who is on four-day visit to US from 11-14 April, held a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Pentagon.

According to an official statement, the two defence ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation and the regional security situation.

"Both ministers acknowledged the salience of India-US defence partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and broader Indian Ocean Region," the statement reads.

They discussed ways to deepen Major Defence Partnership (MDP) and to work together to advance quality and scope in bilateral defence cooperation.

The two leaders also reviewed military-to-military engagements, information sharing, enhanced logistics cooperation, and ability of the Armed Forces to cooperate closely under compatible communication arrangements.

"In this context, closer cooperation of Special Operation Forces came up prominently," the statement said.

The two ministers also discussed ways for closer collaboration between defence industries.

Singh, according to the statement, underlined the need of co-development, co-production between India and US companies, and invited US firms to India "for manufacturing and maintenance of defence equipment".