New Delhi, Oct 6: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met with Commander of US Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J Paparo, as both sides exchanged views on bolstering bilateral defence and strategic cooperation, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
Admiral Paparo is currently on a visit to India.
Earlier, the US Embassy, in a statement, said that the Commander of US Pacific Command is visiting India from October 3-8 to advance the US-India major defence partnership and deepen military-to-military cooperation.
“Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh met with Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Pacific Command, who is visiting India. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on further strengthening India-US defence and strategic cooperation, as well as on regional and global issues. #IndiaUS #DefenceCooperation #StrategicPartnership @IndianEmbassyUS @USAndIndia @MEAIndia,” the Indian defence ministry posted on X.
It also shared some photos of their meeting.
During his visit, Admiral Paparo will engage with Indian counterparts on shared security priorities, including harnessing digital transformation and emerging technologies, maintaining regional strategic stability, strengthening defence energy resilience, and navigating an increasingly competitive technology landscape, the embassy said.
On Monday, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said on X, “Honored to host Admiral Samuel Paparo in India. One of America’s most consequential military leaders, Admiral Paparo commands US Pacific Command, the nation’s oldest and largest geographic combatant command, overseeing approximately 400,000 military and civilian personnel across a region spanning roughly half the globe.”
“Admiral Paparo joined India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General N. S. Raja Subramani; Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth; Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit; Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Tejinder Singh; and other senior Indian defense officials for an evening highlighting the growing strength, ambition, and importance of the US-India Major Defense Partnership,” he wrote.
From emerging technology to maritime security, the US and India are building a defence partnership “equipped to meet the challenges of the future”.
Admiral Paparo’s visit underscores the “strength of the Major Defense Partnership and reaffirms the United States’ enduring presence and interests in the Indian Ocean region,” the embassy said in its statement. (PTI)
