Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday spoke to newly appointed US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin over the phone and discussed tensions between India and China. 

Apart from discussing tensions between India and China, both the leaders also deliberated upon the need for India and the US to work closely together on regional and global issues. 

Both the leaders also reiterated their commitment to strengthen the defence cooperation between the two Countries.  

“Spoke with my US counterpart, Secretary of Défense Austin and conveyed my warm wishes on his appointment. We reiterated our firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation. We exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest to strengthen our strategic partnership,” Rajnath Singh informed. 

Meanwhile, an official statement stated that the call was initiated by Washington DC, where both Rajnath Singh and Lloyd Austin “reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the multifaceted India-US defence cooperation and strategic partnership.” 

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Later, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also spoke to his new US counterpart Jake Sullivan. 

Doval “underscored that as leading democracies, with an abiding faith in an open and inclusive world order, India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.” 

On the other hand, Sullivan said that the US was “looking forward to working together on the bilateral agenda and the common global challenges”. 

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