NEW DELHI (AFNS) —  

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall traveled to India March 21 to discuss building on the rapid growth in bilateral security cooperation and explore ways to further operationalize the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership.

Kendall met with External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra; Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri; Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane; Joint Secretary for International Cooperation Vishwesh Negi; and Air Force Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.

During these meetings, Kendall emphasized India’s status as a vital strategic partner to the U.S. and stressed the Department of the Air Force commitment to deepening defense and security cooperation. The two sides further shared perspectives that aim to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation. The leaders discussed the possible expansion of information sharing, ways to enhance space cooperation, and potential co-development opportunities under the new U.S.-India Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies and U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative.

Kendall also highlighted the value of exchanges, underscoring the mutually beneficial aspects of increased personnel exchanges and liaison officer opportunities.