Washington, DC – US Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 3, according to a Department of Defense readout of the meeting here today to the journalists.
According to the release, Prime Minister Modi and Secretary Carter acknowledged the president’s successful January 2015 visit to New Delhi and agreed to follow up on key outcomes from that visit.
The two agreed to continue to build momentum under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), including the completion of two “pathfinder” project agreements.
Secretary Carter also reaffirmed support for the Knowledge Partnership in Defense Studies, pointing to education as a strategic enabler and voicing enthusiasm for working with India to shape the strategic thinking of the next generation of military leaders.
The leaders agreed that the strategic convergence between the US rebalance and India’s “Act East” opens more opportunities for engagement. They went on to discuss many issues of mutual concern, including the Asia-Pacific, regional security, counter-terrorism.
The secretary also commended India’s rapid humanitarian assistance following the tragic earthquake in Nepal, and expressed gratitude for India’s assistance in searching for the missing UH-1 Huey and its crew.
Carter was on a 10-day trip focused on the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.