"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Strengthens Ties with Indian Officials"

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III co-chaired the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, discussing security issues in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. They agreed to advance the Major Defense Partnership and implement the new Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation. The Secretary exchanged perspectives on regional security with Indian officials and emphasized collaboration for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also discussed ground mobility systems co-production, supply chain security, and integration of defense industrial ecosystems. Efforts to enhance military interoperability, including through exercises, were welcomed. The Secretary highlighted joint work with India to account for missing U.S. service members from World War II. Meetings with Prime Minister Modi and Minister Jaishankar focused on bilateral priorities and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.