Speaking at the 11th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus forum in Lao, the minister said that the principle of peaceful co-existence needs to be embraced even as the world is increasingly getting polarised into blocks and camps. Singh also met his outgoing US counterpart Llyod Austin and signed an agreement with Australia for aerial refuelling of military aircraft that will extend the reach of the Indian armed forces in the Indo-Pacific. “India stands for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” the minister said, adding that India has always advocated and practised dialogue for resolving complex international issues. “India believes that genuine, long-term solutions to global problems can only be achieved when nations engage constructively, respecting each other’s perspectives and working toward shared goals in the spirit of cooperation,” he said.
In his meeting with the US secretary of defence on the sidelines, the two sides discussed progress under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions and ground mobility systems.
