The governments of India and the United States have agreed to strengthen industrial cooperation in the defense sector. This is an announcement made today by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a two-day official trip preceding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington. 

"The India-US strategic partnership is a cornerstone of having a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our alliance continues to grow rapidly and we are also looking to expand industrial cooperation in the defense sector", Austin told reporters, after speaking with held talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and with National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval.

"Our initiative on critical and emerging technology with India allows us to explore new ways to jointly develop key defense platforms", Austin added, recalling the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET), signed last May by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.