India-US defence partnership 'consequential pillar' of relationship, says Jaishankar in Pentagon meeting with Hegseth

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday highlighted the strategic significance of India’s defence partnership with the United States, calling it a “consequential pillar” of the India-US relationship.

Speaking with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth during his visit to Pentagon, Jaishankar said, “I am here for the Quad meeting. We just had discussions… But I am also here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is, today, truly one of the most consequential pillars of our relationship.”

#WATCH | Washington DC, The US | In his meeting with US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "...I am here for the Quad meeting. We just had discussions...But I am also here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is,… pic.twitter.com/mCWLvmSrf5

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2025

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The Pentagon meeting follows discussions at the Quad forum, reflecting India’s commitment to strengthening its alliances amid evolving regional security challenges.

On his part, Hegseth expressed strong support for the growing defence partnership between the US and India and highlighted the successful integration of numerous US defence systems into India’s arsenal.

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#WATCH | Washington DC, The US | In his meeting with EAM Dr S Jaishankar, US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth says, "...The US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items...building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US… pic.twitter.com/3TqOYXbKHl

— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2025

“…The US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items…building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production networks, strengthen interoperability…and formally sign a new framework of US-India major defence partnership…We are eager to work alongside you to realise our shared goals. They are deep and ongoing. The visit today marks an important milestone in the ongoing series of high-level engagements between our two great countries…,” said Hegseth.

Earlier, the foreign ministers of the Quad countries held wide-ranging discussions focusing on making the four-nation grouping more impactful in dealing with various global challenges.

It is learnt that the meeting also deliberated on the agenda for Quad’s annual summit to be held in India later this year, reported PTI.

The meeting at the US capital city was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya.

In a social media post, Jaishankar described the meeting as “very productive”.

“Discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges,” he said.

“Today’s gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific and keep it free and open,” he added.

With inputs from agencies