India, US review defence cooperation at Army Staff Talks in Hawaii
New Delhi, June 7. India and the United States held the 29th edition of the Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Hawaii, reviewing avenues to expand defence cooperation and reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership.
The talks were co-chaired by Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy) of the Indian Army, and Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Pacific.
According to the Indian Army, discussions focused on enhancing military-to-military cooperation, improving interoperability, expanding professional exchanges and deepening collaboration in support of shared security interests.
In a post on X on June 6, the Indian Army said both sides welcomed the growing scope of Army-to-Army engagements and reiterated their resolve to further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership.
The meeting comes amid a series of high-level engagements between the two countries aimed at advancing defence and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Last week, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Congressman Pat Harrigan, a member of the US House Armed Services Committee, who was leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation in Singapore. The two sides discussed regional security issues, opportunities for expanding defence cooperation and ways to advance shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific.
The Ministry of Defence said the interaction underscored the strength of the India-US defence partnership and reflected the growing convergence between the two countries on regional and strategic issues.
Earlier, on May 24, US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi for talks centred on defence, security and strategic technology cooperation, including the TRUST initiative.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders reviewed progress under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on key regional and global developments, while reaffirming the importance both countries attach to their expanding strategic relationship.