Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met with Indian expatriates in Washington, where he discussed India’s current perspective and its view of the world. He also highlighted the strong relationship between India and the United States. From August 23 to 26, Rajnath Singh will engage in bilateral talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
HIGHLIGHTS
- “We can be deceived, but we cannot deceive others,” says Rajnath Singh.
- “US-India relations have become very strong,” says Rajnath Singh.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Washington on Thursday for a four-day visit. During this trip, he will hold bilateral meetings with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and meet with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. This visit aims to further strengthen the India-US relationship. While in Washington, Rajnath Singh met with members of the Indian diaspora. During the meeting, he emphasized that India would never stab another country in the back and reiterated India’s message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).
The Defense Minister stated, “I want to tell the Indian community working here to work with complete honesty. You should be dedicated to India, but since you are working here, your dedication to the United States should not be questioned either. Only then will Indians have a good reputation.” He added, “Deceit is not in our character. We can be deceived, but we cannot deceive others. This message should reach the world.”
India Considers the World a Family: Rajnath Singh
He continued, “Deceit is not in our character. We can be deceived, but we cannot deceive others. This message should reach the world.” Rajnath Singh further mentioned that India has always given the message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” to the world, considering all people of all races and religions as part of one family.
Rajnath Singh stated, “We are the country that has given the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ to the entire world. The people living in our country are not just our family members; everyone in the world, regardless of their race, religion, or community, is part of one family. The whole world is one family.”
India and the US Coming Together is No Less Than Destiny: Defense Minister
The Defense Minister also spoke about the strong diplomatic ties between India and the US. He remarked, “The relationship between the two countries is nothing short of destiny. In fact, Christopher Columbus set out to discover India but ended up in America. The relationship between the two countries is quite old.”
India and the US have acknowledged the progress made on bilateral defense initiatives following the Fifth Annual US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November 2023. The US has shown its commitment to supporting India’s military modernization, defense industrial cooperation, and the rule of law in the Arabian Sea and surrounding waterways.
Partnership Between the Two Countries Will Grow Stronger
In June this year, Jake Sullivan visited India. There have been regular discussions and high-level visits between New Delhi and Washington on various strategic, regional, and bilateral issues, including the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Both countries have recognized that the iCET, launched by Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden in January 2023, will play a decisive role in deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
