From Rs 600 Cr to Rs 23,000 Cr: In US, Rajnath Singh Highlights Exponential Growth In

Highlighted India’s growing global influence and defence export successes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday underlined the remarkable increase in defence exports, which have surged from Rs 600 crore to Rs 23,000 crore over the past decade.

The defence minister’s remarks came as he arrived in Washington as part of a four-day visit to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the United States and India. He is scheduled to meet Defense Secretary Austin Lloyd at the Pentagon on Friday.

‘Global perception’ of India

During a speech to the Indian diaspora in Washington on Thursday, he said, “The people of the Indian community who live outside India are concerned about the global perception of their country. I can confidently say that India’s stature has risen in the international community.”

“Earlier, India’s opinions were not taken with the seriousness they deserved. But today, when India speaks on the global forum, the world listens carefully,” he was quoted as saying news agency ANI. Underscoring India’s economic progress and rise in its defence exports, Singh said, “Previously, we used to import all our defence equipment. When our government came into power, defence exports were Rs 600 crore. Now, after 10 years, they have reached Rs 23,000 crores.”

The military-to-military relationship between India and the United States is strong, the Pentagon said Thursday on the eve of the meeting between Rajnath Singh and Lloyd. “The mil-to-mil relationships between the United States and India are strong,” Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at a news conference here.

“You’ve seen that cooperation deepen, and not just from a DOD perspective, but from an administration perspective. Our close coordination and working together remains strong. The (Defense) secretary when he visited India, you know, announced some of those deliverables,” Sabrina Singh said in response to a question. “I’m not going to go through all of what he announced then, but it remains strong,” she said.

Before Singh’s departure, several reports said that India’s plan to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, the proposed joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and co-production of GE F414 engines in India are likely to figure prominently in Singh’s talks with Austin, officials said in New Delhi this week.

“The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the defence ministry said announcing Singh’s trip to the US from August 23 to 26. “The visit comes in the backdrop of the growing momentum in India-US relations and defence engagements at multiple levels,” it said. Singh will also chair a high-level roundtable meeting with the US defence industry on the ongoing and future defence collaborations. He will also interact with the Indian community during the visit.

(With agency inputs)

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Agencies)