India and the US, on Friday (May 29, 2026), confirmed their commitment to strengthen defence and security cooperation during a bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also interacted with NATO’s military committee chair Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone during their meeting in Singapore on the sidelines of the 2026 edition of the most popular diplomatic event hosted in the Southeast Asian region.
During his meeting with the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the two sides focused on “strengthening military-to-military cooperation, enhancing collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, and addressing emerging security challenges, reaffirming the shared commitment towards deepening #IndiaUS strategic defence ties,” the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted on X.
During the talks with Admiral Dragone on evolving global and regional security challenges, India’s Defence Secretary highlighted its commitment to sustained strategic engagement with NATO, the MoD said in another X post.
Their exchange focused on “enhancing strategic dialogue and exchanging perspectives on evolving global challenges,” it said, adding, “the interaction reaffirmed India’s commitment to constructive engagement with key multilateral defence organisations.”
At the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, India also underscored its strategic priorities for a stable and secure Indo-Pacific through high-level diplomatic outreach and academic engagement.
The MoD said on X that the Defence Secretary “engaged with leading think tanks and academia on strengthening the Indo-Pacific security architecture, defence industrial collaboration, and emerging technology partnerships.”
In his address on ‘India’s Defence Diplomacy for a Stable, Secure, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific’, Rajesh Kumar Singh shared India’s vision for regional security and strategic engagement.
India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, was present during the Defence Secretary’s diplomatic engagements, highlighting the significance of the engagement at the international forum.