India and US: A Formidable Force for Global Peace and Prosperity, Says Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh

Washington: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh hailed the growing India-US partnership as a powerful force for global peace, prosperity, and stability during his interaction with the Indian diaspora after arriving in Washington for a four-day visit to the US. He described India and the US as “natural allies,” emphasizing the continuous growth in their collaboration.

Highlighting India’s rising stature on the global stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Shri Rajnath Singh remarked, “Earlier, India’s voice at international forums was often overlooked; today, the world listens carefully.” He credited India’s transformation from being one of the “Fragile Five” economies to being among the “Fabulous Five,” citing a recent report by Morgan Stanley predicting India’s rise to the third-largest economy by 2027.

The Raksha Mantri further discussed India’s resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the Indian economy emerged relatively unscathed compared to other nations. He praised the government’s achievements in poverty alleviation, stating that 25 crore people have been brought above the poverty line, retail inflation has fallen to a five-year low of 3.54%, and foreign exchange reserves have reached an all-time high of $675 billion.

Focusing on defense and self-reliance, Rajnath Singh outlined the government’s efforts to promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defense manufacturing, including the indigenization of over 5,000 items. He emphasized the sharp rise in defense exports, which have increased from Rs 600 crore to over Rs 21,000 crore, and acknowledged the rapid growth of start-ups in India, from 400 in 2014 to 1.20 lakh today.

The Raksha Mantri urged the Indian community in the US to contribute to India’s growth by working with honesty and dedication, in alignment with the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family).

Coinciding with Rajnath Singh’s arrival, two key defense agreements were signed between India and the US: the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers.

During his visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, meet US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and chair a high-level round-table meeting with the US defense industry to discuss ongoing and future defense collaborations. The visit is expected to deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.