Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks met with Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane today at the Pentagon to discuss priorities for strengthening the U.S-India defense partnership, including increasing defense industrial cooperation and operational collaboration.
The Deputy Secretary underscored the importance of the U.S.-India relationship as critical for promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
She also reiterated U.S. support for India’s defense modernization objectives, including increasing U.S. investments in Indian domestic manufacturing.
During the meeting, Deputy Secretary Hicks described the proposals to co-produce jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) as unprecedented opportunities to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Indian defense sectors. She also reiterated the importance of deepening military-to-military relations between the United States and India as the technology partnership grows.
The two leaders welcomed the upcoming launch of INDUS-X in advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in June, and highlighted its value as an opportunity to promote partnerships between the two countries’ defense innovation ecosystems.
They also discussed the key issues and outcomes of the annual Defense Policy Group dialogue chaired this week by Defence Secretary Aramane and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl.
Deputy Secretary Hicks and Defence Secretary Aramane pledged to continue progress toward strengthening the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and they look forward to other high-level engagements between the two countries later this year.