iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra concluded his two-day visit to Washington D.C. on Friday, April 13, and met several White House executives.
During his visit, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks hosted Kwatra at the Pentagon to discuss priorities for strengthening the US-India defense partnership, including the implementation of the Roadmap for US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation.
According to the US Department of Defense press release, both countries applauded efforts to advance the co-production of fighter jet engines and armored vehicles, as well as the continued success of the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) in promoting innovation and partnerships between US and Indian researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Kwatra also held discussions with his counterparts at the US State Department and the National Security Council.
According to the Indian embassy press release, Kwatra’s meetings were in “keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and provided an opportunity to further advance our growing and future-oriented partnership.”
Among the officials he met were Richard Verma, the US Deputy Secretary of State, which is the highest position held by an Indian-American at the State Department; and Kurt Campbell, recently appointed the US Deputy Secretary of State, who is also the Biden administration’s czar on the Indo-Pacific and the Quad — a group of Indo-Pacific countries, India, the US, Japan and Australia.
Verma after meeting Kwatra posted on X [former Twitter]: “Productive catch up with Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra on advancing ongoing #USIndia cooperation and the need for our countries’ close partnership for regional security and prosperity. #USIndiaFWD.”
Secretary Campbell posted on X [former Twitter]: “Delighted to welcome my great friend Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra back to Washington for discussions on #USIndia cooperation and the Quad. Our partnership in the Indo-Pacific is closer than ever.”
Though not related to the visit, according to reports Kwatra is also one of the two frontrunners in the race for the ambassadorship to the US, which has been vacant after Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu departed Jan 31.
The other contender is Vikram Misri, India’s Deputy National Security Adviser.
[Photo courtesy: X (Twitter)]
