Strengthening their military ties further, India and the US have discussed ways of expanding their growing strategic partnership and cooperation at the 12th Defence Policy Group meeting held in New Delhi.
The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and US Acting Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Jim Miller. Miller also called on Defence Minister A K Antony and Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma to discuss bilateral defence issues. He also held meetings with National Security Advisor
Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai addressing a range of regional and global issues. In a statement, Miller said, the US sees India as a partner in advancing stability and security in the region and globally. He said, the US looks forward to continuing to strengthen its partnership on defence and security with India.
The next meeting of the Defence Policy Group will be held in the US next year.
India and the US have enhanced their cooperation in defence and have held a series of exercises involving their defence forces in the last decade. India has also emerged as one of the major importers of US defence equipment and has spent close to 10 billion US Dollar in procuring systems such as C-130J Hercules and C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft for the Navy.
It is also in negotiations with the US Government for the procurement of 145 ultra light howitzers and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
