US, Indian Military Leaders Meet in Delhi to Strengthen Defence Partnership

The US Embassy in India hosted the gathering at Roosevelt House, bringing together Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM), Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and other senior Indian defence officials.

The US mission said Admiral Paparo's visit reflected the growing momentum in defence cooperation between the two countries.

Paparo arrived in New Delhi on October 3 for a six-day official visit focused on advancing defence ties between India and the US.

During his visit, Paparo also held talks with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The discussions covered ways to deepen bilateral defence and strategic cooperation, along with regional and global security developments.

The Ministry of Defence said both sides exchanged views on international and regional issues during the meeting.

Earlier, Paparo met senior Indian military leaders, highlighting the importance attached by both countries to their expanding defence relationship.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said Paparo's visit provided an opportunity to engage with India's senior military leadership. He noted that Paparo commands USPACOM, the US military's oldest and largest geographic combatant command, overseeing around 400,000 military and civilian personnel across a region covering roughly half the globe.

Paparo's engagements included meetings with Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Tejinder Singh and other senior Indian defence officials.

The meetings come amid continued efforts by India and the US to expand strategic and military cooperation across a range of areas.