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Hegseth said that New Delhi was strengthening its military capabilities and expanding its industrial and logistics infrastructure to support high-end military operations.
Pete Hegseth made the remarks while talking to delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday (File)
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Saturday praised India’s military modernisation efforts, describing the country as a “powerful” force and a key pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
While speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said that New Delhi was strengthening its military capabilities and expanding its industrial and logistics infrastructure to support high-end military operations.
“India is powerful and modernising its military. It is building a heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations,” the Trump aide said as quoted by news agency PTI.
“We’ve also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities,” said Hegseth, adding that America was undergoing a national manufacturing globalisation of its defence.
He described India as a critical partner in South Asia and said a strong India acting in its own interests also advanced the shared objective of regional stability.
“In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region,” he said.
Hegseth pointed to expanding defence cooperation between Washington and New Delhi, including efforts to pursue co-production initiatives for advanced military systems such as Javelin anti-tank guided munitions.
“We’ve also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities,” he said, describing such initiatives as important steps toward improving the readiness of both countries’ armed forces.
Hegseth also assessed defence-related relations with Japan, South Korea, ASEAN and Australia.
Addressing delegates from across the region, Hegseth said the Indo-Pacific remained the world’s most consequential strategic region and urged US allies and partners to invest more heavily in their own defence capabilities.
He also reiterated Washington’s commitment to maintaining regional security, saying no country should be allowed to establish dominance that threatens the security of other nations.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, one of Asia’s leading security forums, has brought together senior defence officials, military leaders and policymakers from 44 countries this year to discuss regional and global security challenges.
(With inputs from agencies)
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