India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held extensive discussions with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington on Friday, addressing key issues such as the impact of global events on geopolitics, regional security challenges, expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and deepening defense industrial ties. The meetings coincided with the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency's formal notification to Congress about a potential foreign military sale to India, including vital anti-submarine warfare equipment to enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities. According to the Indian defense ministry's statement on Saturday, Singh and Sullivan exchanged views on the shifting geopolitical landscape and critical regional security matters. They also reviewed ongoing defense industrial collaborations and identified potential areas for further cooperation between the two nations' industries. Singh's four-day visit to Washington, which began on August 22, is of particular significance as India negotiates multi-billion-dollar deals with the US, including the procurement of MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems and the joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines. The Indian Navy is also exploring partnerships with HawkEye 360, a US-based commercial satellite operator, as part of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative, a Quad initiative aimed at enhancing maritime domain awareness in the region. The Pentagon highlighted that Singh and Austin discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen the major defense partnership between India and the US, emphasizing their shared commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific region." They also agreed to advance priority co-production projects under the US-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation, focusing on jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems. Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder noted that both leaders celebrated progress in several bilateral defense initiatives, including bolstering supply chain security, enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and improving operational coordination through Indian liaison officers at US commands. The discussions also centered on intensifying cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in light of China's growing influence in the region. Austin praised the Indian Navy's contributions to regional security, particularly its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and its upcoming leadership role in Combined Task Force 150 in 2025. The two ministers also reviewed efforts to enhance maritime security through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative, which aims to provide Indian Ocean Region partners with satellite data to detect illicit activities. Additionally, on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved a potential foreign military sale to India of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment, valued at approximately $52.8 million. The meetings came shortly after India and the US signed two key agreements to bolster defense cooperation. The Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) ensures the mutual supply of defense goods and services, addressing unexpected supply chain disruptions. The second agreement involves the assignment of liaison officers, with India set to deploy its first liaison officer to the US Special Operations Command in Florida.