Building alliances and partnerships top priority: U.S. Deputy Defence Secy tells NSA Doval
The Hindu
The U.S. has indicated solidarity with several Asian nations, several of whom have conflicts with an aggressive China which is flexing its muscles in the strategic Indo-Pacific region
U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Dr. Kathleen Hicks told National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that building alliances and partnerships are a "top priority" for her department, the Pentagon has said, amidst the Indo-Pacific region's increasingly contested strategic environment and China's aggressive behaviour.
Ms. Hicks said this during a meeting with Mr. Doval in Washington and discussed priorities for the U.S.-India bilateral defence partnership, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
It said the discussions also included strengthening policy and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific region and increasing defence industrial cooperation between the two countries.
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"They discussed a range of topics including U.S.-India defence cooperation and regional security issues," the Indian Embassy said in a tweet Tuesday.
"I met today with #India Nat’l Security Advisor #AjitDoval to discuss priorities for the U.S.-India defense partnership, thank India for leadership in the Indo-Pacific region & discuss ways to deepen defense industrial cooperation," Ms. Hicks tweeted.
Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon, in a readout of the meeting, said Ms. Hicks reiterated that building alliances and partnerships is a top priority for the department, and integral to the ongoing implementation of the U.S. National Defence Strategy.