U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his counterpart from India Manohar Parrikar met in New Delhi as part of a trip to discuss priorities with ally nations and thank service members around the world, DoD News reported Thursday.
Amaani Lyle writes the two leaders discussed technology matters including the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative that aims to expand collaboration and business ties between the two nations.
Both leaders also talked about regional security issues such as terrorist threats and agreed to continue efforts to bolster bilateral counterterrorism cooperation to address a need to defend states against terror groups.
“There is a lot going on in this relationship, you couldn’t have imagined what we’re doing now in 2008, and you couldn’t imagine that in 2000,” said Carter.
Carter added that the relationship between India and the U.S. can be reflected through its joint activities including bilateral and trilateral exercises.
The U.S. and India have launched seven joint working groups under the DTTI and have also increased the amount of U.S.-India defense trade to $14 billion since 2008 which covers Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft, C-17 Globemaster II transports and P-8 Poseidon aircraft.
The report added that the two countries have inked a $732 million agreement that will provide 145 M777 Howitzer guns to the Indian army.
