In the latest update, the main India-US strategic defence coordination panel has discussed increasing the cooperation between the Indo-Pacific region. This comes as a strategy for the two countries to expand.
US-India DPG Discussed Opportunities For Enhanced Cooperation In Recent Meeting
As per the latest reports, the meeting conducted on Thursday of the US Defence Policy Group co-chaired by India Defense Secretary Ajay Kuman and the US Secretary for Defence POlicy, Colin Kahl discussed opportunities to enhance the cooperation between the US and India to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific as informed by US Defence Department spokesperson Lt Col Anton Semelroth.
So far, the leaders of the Quad, the group of India, US, Japan and Australia have so far ruled out a defence pact for their cooperation. The only joint action of the Quad members has been annual Malabar naval exercises. The latest exercise took place in August.
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Semelroth further said in a readout that the Dialogue advanced an ambitious set of bilateral priorities to flourish the defence ties between the US and India. He informed that the leaders reinforced their commitment towards deepening joint cooperation and interoperability between the US and Indian militaries to work with more ease.
In the meeting, DPG figured two ways of expansion regading the defence cooperation with the regional partners and infromation sharing. It was then followed by the quad which Modi and Biden held with the PM of Australia Scott Morrison.
Narendra Modi and Joe Biden Meet Further Strengthened Relations
This comes after India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Joe Biden met in Washington last month. The White House said that both the parties reaffirmed the strength of the defense relationship between the US and India.
The DPG meeting also “laid the groundwork” for the 2+2 dialogue of Jaishankar and Singh with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin to be held later this year, Semelroth said.
