The North News
New Delhi, July 3
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, during a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, described the India-US defence partnership as one of the most “consequential pillars” of their bilateral relationship. Reflecting on his long association with the United States, Jaishankar remarked, “I first came to this building more than 40 years ago. I’ve seen some big changes in these 40 years, and I think some of those changes were reflected in the conversation you had with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh this morning.”
Jaishankar is currently in the US to attend the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) meetings, following discussions with Senator Marco Rubio and counterparts from Australia and Japan.
Emphasising the importance of strategic ties, Jaishankar said the defence relationship between India and the US was not just based on shared interests but on a “deepening convergence of capabilities and responsibilities.” He highlighted the Indo-Pacific region as a key area for joint efforts to ensure strategic stability.
The minister also welcomed progress in foundational defence agreements, citing the recent signing of the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), expanding defence trade, and cooperation in underwater domain awareness and autonomous systems. He pointed to the momentum in the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (Indus-X) as evidence of growing collaboration.
“It’s a great pleasure to be here with you, and I look forward to our conversations,” he concluded.
