An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Oct. 29, 2020

U.S., India Meeting Looks to Deepen Cooperation

By Jim Garamone DOD NEWS

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and India Two-plus-Two Conference among the defense and foreign affairs leaders of both nations has charted just how far cooperation between the two democracies has come, said a senior defense official speaking on background.

The meeting — held in New Delhi — was among Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper, Secretary of States Mike Pompeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

"The two-plus-two this year was an opportunity to reflect on what we've done, assess the current situation where more work is needed and then identify key deliverables in 2021 to advance the relationship," said the official after the meeting.
It was the third meeting at this level between the two nations.

Prior to the meeting — held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi — Esper and Singh sat down to substantive discussions in the Indian Ministry of Defense. Esper and Pompeo also spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The centerpiece meeting covered a number of areas in the defense relationship. In military-to-military cooperation, the men discussed how to "operationalize" the logistics agreement. They also talked about assigning liaison officers to both countries, in areas that would deepen cooperation.

The U.S. Central Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command were two areas in the U.S. military discussed.

Another discussion point was information sharing and secure communications. "We spent a good bit of time talking about the Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreement, which was a key milestone today. It was signed today," the official said. "They also identified areas in 2021, where we'd like to further information sharing at the service level and at the joint level."

Secure communications was part of this discussion and both nations want to further the process and deepen the capability across services and at the leadership level.

Another part of the discussion centered on new areas of cooperation both in the region and in the new military domains of cyber and space, the official said.

The official was quick to say that although the relationship is deepening, it is not an alliance. "India has a policy of strategic autonomy, which we honor," he said. "That means they want to preserve their independence and how they manage their foreign policy."

Still, India is part of a group called the Quad countries — India, Japan, Australia and the United States. There have been a number of meetings among defense officials from these nations, the most recent being in Tokyo earlier this year. "These meetings reflect a growing acknowledgment of shared interests," he said. They cover security, but they also cover economic and — in the time of COVID-19 – medical interests.

"There is no discussion of [the Quad] becoming an alliance anytime in the near future," the official said. "It is really a … mechanism to organize lines of effort across … some of the largest players in the Indo-Pacific."

The United States will host the next two-plus-two meeting.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
USINDOPACOM Statement on DPRK Launch
Sept. 12, 2023 - We are aware of the ballistic missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners...

U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and CNMI agencies successfully conduct joint search and rescue exercise
U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Station Apra Harbor personnel team up with seven local CNMI departments to conduct a comprehensive Search and Rescue Exercise off the coast of Saipan near Managaha Island on Sept. 7 and 8, 2023. Building upon the foundations of a 2022 SAREX, this two-day event showcased interagency coordination, expertise, and invaluable training that are critical for the success of real-world search and rescue operations. The event involved more than 40 participants from various agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire and Emergency Management Services, Customs and Biosecurity, CPA Port Police, and several environmental quality departments. It commenced with a simulated 911 call reporting a vessel on fire a few nautical miles off the coast. Six boats carrying over 30 rescue personnel were underway within an hour, implementing the search pattern lessons the Coast Guard team provided the previous day. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Christine Igisomar)
Sept. 12, 2023 - In a demonstration of steadfast commitment to maritime safety, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and Station Apra Harbor personnel teamed up with seven local CNMI departments to conduct a comprehensive search and...

Pacific Marines, French Armed Forces Train in Tahiti
U.S. Marines with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and members of the French Marine Infantry Regiment in French Polynesia, French Armed Forces, pose for a group photo at the peak of Mount Marau in Arue, Tahiti, French Polynesia, Sept. 6, 2023. The event provided an opportunity for members of both militaries to foster a deeper understanding of each others’ traditions while building mutual respect among Allies and partners within the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Haley Fourmet Gustavsen)
Sept. 12, 2023 - Pacific Marines with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and members of the Marine Infantry Regiment, French Armed Forces, conducted tactical-level, bilateral training, Aug. 27 – Sep. 9,...

USS Benfold Returns to Yokosuka
Yokosuka, Japan (Aug. 31, 2023) Sailors heave a line aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) during a sea and anchor detail in Yokosuka, Japan on Aug. 31. Benfold is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stack)
Sept. 11, 2023 - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) returned to Yokosuka, Japan, from patrol on Aug. 31...

US Army Soldiers restore school during Super Garuda Shield
U.S. Army Reserve 479th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Battalion, 412th Theater Engineer Command and Indonesian National Armed Forces Army 2nd Marine Engineer Battalion in constructing a school, during Super Garuda Shield 23 at 5th Marine Training Center (Puslatpur), Situbondo, Indonesia, 02 Sep. 2023. Service members are working on this project to help restore the school so that it will be fully functional for the local community. #SuperGarudaShield 2023 is an annual exercise that has significantly grown in scope and size since 2009. #SGS2023 is the second consecutive time this exercise has grown into a combined and #joint event, highlighting the 6 participating and 12 observing nations’ commitment to #partnership and a #freeandopenindopacific. (U.S. Army photo captured by Staff Sgt. Brenden Delgado)
Sept. 11, 2023 - U.S. Army Soldiers with 130th Engineer Brigade, Army reserve Soldiers from 412th Theater Engineer Command, and Armed Forces Indonesian (TNI) service members assigned to the 12th Construction Battalion, celebrated the...