US Army Secretary Holds Talks with Indian Army Chief in New Delhi
In a significant development for bilateral defence relations, US Secretary of the Army Daniel P Driscoll met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on Sunday. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening India-US defence cooperation and deepening military-to-military engagement, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
Focus on Expanding Defence Cooperation
The discussions between the two military leaders centered on several key areas of mutual interest. According to the Indian Army, the meeting specifically addressed:
- Expanding bilateral defence cooperation between India and the United States
- Enhancing military-to-military engagement across various domains
- Reaffirming the shared commitment of both armies to global peace and security
The Additional Directorate General of the Indian Army shared details of the meeting on social media platform X, stating that the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, deepening military engagement, and reinforcing the shared commitment to global security.
Sustained Momentum in Defence Ties
Driscoll's visit comes at a time when India and the United States are experiencing sustained momentum in their defence relationship across multiple domains. This meeting follows several other high-level engagements between the two countries' military establishments in recent months.
In November last year, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi visited the United States to deepen the India-US maritime partnership and advance shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Those discussions covered crucial aspects of defence cooperation including:
- Maritime security and domain awareness
- Operational interoperability between forces
- Information sharing mechanisms
- Protection of sea lanes and undersea infrastructure
- Coordination on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
- Search and rescue operations
- Counter-piracy initiatives
Growing Defence Equipment Cooperation
The defence cooperation between India and the United States has also expanded significantly in terms of military equipment and capability building. Recent developments in this area include:
In November, the United States approved the sale of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems and M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles to India, with an estimated value of USD 47.1 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency later announced that the US State Department had cleared a broader military sale valued at USD 93 million, which includes:
- 100 Javelin missiles
- Command-launch units
- Training aids and simulation rounds
- Spare parts and full lifecycle support
Framework for Major Defence Partnership
Earlier, in October, defence minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth exchanged an agreement on the framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership in Kuala Lumpur. This move marked a key milestone in bilateral defence relations and followed the signing of a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement between the two countries.
Announcing this development, Hegseth emphasized that India-US defence ties had "never been stronger," underscoring the deepening strategic alignment between the two nations. This framework agreement provides a structured approach to enhancing defence cooperation across various sectors and establishes a long-term vision for the partnership.
The meeting between Driscoll and Dwivedi represents another step forward in this evolving defence relationship, highlighting the commitment of both countries to work together on security challenges and maintain stability in the region. As strategic partners, India and the United States continue to explore new avenues for collaboration that benefit both nations and contribute to global security architecture.
