The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has praised the outcomes of the discussions held between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The council highlighted that the visit by the US leader demonstrates the growing alignment between the world’s oldest and largest democracies.
USIBC President Atul Keshap, in a statement, commended both governments for establishing a new roadmap for US-India defense industrial cooperation. Keshap emphasized that USIBC’s members consist of leading defense firms worldwide, capable of producing advanced defense platforms that can enhance security in areas such as border security, maritime domain awareness, and space situational awareness. This collaboration contributes to effective deterrence in an unsettled geostrategic environment.
Keshap further stated that Secretary Austin’s visit signifies the accelerating convergence between the United States and India. He expressed confidence that progress on technology release under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the startup linkages created by the INDUS X defense innovation bridge will empower the industry to support India’s role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.
The discussions between the two sides highlighted the growing significance that the US government places on India as a major commercial and defense partner. Ongoing talks regarding tech releasability issues were also mentioned.
USIBC welcomed the Security of Supply Chain Agreement and reciprocal defense procurement agreement, emphasizing that these were key industry demands during the initial public-private consultations under the iCET. These agreements are crucial steps in developing a high-trust ecosystem that will enable the private sector to pursue more ambitious endeavors.
Keshap announced that USIBC will host the inaugural Indus X conference on June 20-21 in Washington, D.C., further emphasizing the organization’s commitment to fostering cooperation and innovation in the US-India defense partnership.
