The Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane spoke at the second edition of INDUS-X 2024 Summit: Innovations in India-US Defence. He emphasised that India and the U.S. shared values and common interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Defence Secretary said “Today, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in the history of the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific, with its vast expanse of oceans and strategic waterways, stands as the crossroad of global commerce, geopolitics, and security”. Further, he added “navigating the complex dynamics of this region, India and the United States find themselves as key stakeholders, bound by shared values and common interests.”
He highlighted how the Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) launched in 2022 have bridged multiple sectors between India and the U.S. One of the key areas is in the Defence Innovation startups in the defence sector establishing bridges through various platforms of defence, expos, and multiple multilateral sessions. The iCET has worked as a catalyst between the U.S. and Indian defence sectors.
As India leverages cutting-edge equipment and technology from the U.S., India is a prominent partner for the Indo-Pacific strategy promoting defence capabilities. The Joint IMPACT Challenges initiative has promoted the advancement of defence and aerospace co-development and co-production initiatives between the two.
He said, “The incorporation of start-ups actively involved in pioneering solutions introduces a fresh dimension to the breadth and potency of this partnership”, deepening the potential of the countries.
Further, he emphasised upon the multilateral engagements between the countries, inviting all stakeholders at the summit to combine their efforts towards a strategic bilateral partnership.
He said, “By leveraging our respective strengths and capabilities, India and the United States can play a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
The defence secretary emphasised the success of the Indian defence industry in achieving new milestones in producing ships, aircraft carriers, advanced weaponry such as LCA Tejas and combat helicopters. The development of the Indian defence sector is noticed by the international defence market.
The summit aimed to focus on the technological innovation in defence taking place between the U.S-India Strategic Partnership. It was jointly organised between the Ministry of Defence, India and the U.S. Department of Defence in New Delhi. The two-day summit was to highlight the progress among various startups and MSMEs and to fulfil the purpose of the INDUS-X initiative.
Nitish Chavan
