India and US: Rajnath Singh Highlights India-US Alliance and Economic Achievements During US Visit
During an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Washington, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the strong and natural alliance between India and the United States. Arriving in the US for a four-day visit, Singh described the partnership as a formidable force capable of ensuring global peace, prosperity, and stability. He highlighted how, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s international stature has grown significantly, with the world now paying close attention to the country’s voice on global issues.
Singh contrasted the current position of India with its past, noting that before 2014, India was considered one of the ‘Fragile Five’ economies by Morgan Stanley. Today, the nation is among the ‘Fabulous Five,’ with projections placing it as the third-largest economy by 2027. He attributed this transformation to the government’s effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to strengthen the economy. Singh further highlighted India’s success in bringing 25 crore people out of poverty, reducing inflation to a five-year low of 3.54%, and achieving record-high foreign exchange reserves of $675 billion.
Focusing on India’s strides toward self-reliance, or ‘Aatmanirbharta,’ in defence, Singh pointed out the creation of Positive Indigenisation Lists with over 5,000 items and significant growth in defence exports, which rose from ₹600 crore to over ₹21,000 crore. Additionally, he noted the rapid increase in start-ups, from 400 in 2014 to 1.20 lakh today, crediting these developments to strong government policies and willpower.
Singh urged the Indian community in the US to continue working with dedication in line with the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family). His visit also coincided with the signing of two significant agreements between India and the US – the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers.
During his US visit, Singh is scheduled to meet US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and key leaders from the US defence industry to discuss ongoing and future defence collaborations.
(With inputs from agency)
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