Rajnath Singh should give one chance to Shri Hegseth for redemption

Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri spoke with the new Raksha Mantri of America Shri Pete Hegseth on Thursday to discuss bilateral defence cooperation.

This was their first conversation after Hegseth assumed office.The U.S. is trying to strengthen its defence ties, emphasizing interoperability.

Progress was seen to be be made through the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems.

India and the U.S. agreed to collaborate on a comprehensive framework for defence cooperation, with aims to structure bilateral collaboration from 2025 to 2035. However there appears a sudden break has been applied somewhere.

The delay in supply of jet engines fir Tejas Mk1 A was initially blamed on supply chain issue but now things are looking as if this “ delay “ has been manufactured. Even the supply of Appache helicopters have started having an inordinate delay.

Since both parties are looking to broaden the bilateral defence relationship, including cooperation in operations, intelligence, logistics, and defence-industrial matters, India needs to give one more chance to USA to redeem itself.

Shri Hegseth has expressed anticipation for the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and the conclusion of the next ten-year U.S.-India Defence Framework. Well Hegseth needs to be told that now there is only one way to increase the bilateral defence partnership.

That is, both President Trump and the USA Congress needs to be encouraged to approve the sale of 9 x C17 (from reserve stocks) and 12 x P8I to India and their supply on top priority.