WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, led a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis attended by U.S. Senators and Representatives to discuss the future of U.S.-India defense cooperation.

The event, co-hosted by India Caucus co-chair Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), was held in the U.S. Capitol to discuss the strategic importance of India in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senators stressed the need to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two nations given their shared national security interests, with the goal of increasing security and stability in Asia and globally. Secretary Mattis highlighted the growing nature of U.S.-India defense cooperation, specifically the Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to increase military-to-military cooperation, information-sharing, and defense trade with a major defense partner.

“A closer partnership with India, based on shared national interests and democratic values, should remain a strategic imperative for the United States. This is particularly important as we see the rise of authoritarian regimes around the world,” said Sen. Warner. “The United States should continue to pursue closer defense cooperation with India, increasing technology transfers, defense sales, joint military exercises and increased military cooperation on shared national security missions and priorities.” 

Sens. Warner and Cornyn included language in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that required DoD to codify the definition of Major Defense Partner and to develop a defense strategy with India. Most recently, both Senators introduced an amendment to the FY19 NDAA that failed which would have supported India’s membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). 

The event preceded Secretary Mattis’ planned meeting in India with the Indian Ministers of Defense & Foreign Affairs on July 6^th.

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