India and the US pay a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region, says the Indian Defence Secretary. Speaking at the second INDUS-X Summit on February 21, 2024, in New Delhi, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane underscored the region’s importance as a nexus for global trade, geopolitics, and security.
Aramane highlighted the strong defence partnership between the two nations, pointing to the Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) launched jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in 2022. He noted that iCET aims to foster innovation across key sectors, including defence, through various platforms such as expos, hackathons, and pitching sessions.
The Defence Secretary also mentioned the Defence Innovation Bridge, a significant outcome of iCET, facilitating collaboration between US and Indian startups in the defence sector. He emphasized the introduction of Joint IMPACT Challenges as a unique initiative aimed at advancing defence and aerospace co-development and co-production efforts collaboratively.
Regarding bilateral cooperation in the aerospace and defence sectors, Aramane highlighted India’s increasing reliance on the United States for cutting-edge equipment and technology. He noted that the United States views India as a crucial partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, given India’s growing defence capabilities.
The defence secretary underscored India’s success stories in defence production, ranging from shipbuilding, including aircraft carriers, to the development of advanced weaponry like the Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft. He called upon industry representatives from both countries to deepen the strategic partnership and maximize the potential of cooperation.
He participated in the Capstone session of the INDUS-X Summit, alongside INDOPACOM Commander Admiral John C Aquilino, Amb Atul Keshap, President of USIBC, and Rexon Ryu, President of The Asia Group, who moderated the session.
The second edition of the INDUS-X Summit, jointly organized by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, India, and the US Department of Defence (DoD) in New Delhi, aimed to foster progress in defence industries across borders. The event sought to align technological capabilities for startups and MSMEs and engage in bilateral dialogues to advance the INDUS-X initiative.
