Washington, Dec 6 (UNI) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Pentagon's Defence Innovation Unit in Mountain View, California, on Wednesday and discussed the role of commercial innovation in national security.
She had an interaction with Managing Director Michael Brown and his team, according to the Indian Embassy, and also venture capitalists associated with the Unit.
Both countries have said they would build up cooperation in defence manufacturing.
Later the minister arrived in Honolulu, the headquarters of the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDO-PACOM).
She was received by Lt. General Bryan P. Fenton, Deputy Commander @INDOPACOM at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It is America’s oldest and largest military combatant command.
This year, in May, US Pacific Command was renamed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
During the December 5-7 visit, she will hold meetings with Commander of INDO-PACOM, Admiral Philip S. Davidson.
She will also visit Joint Base Pearl Harbour Hickam, where she would board a US Guided Missile Destroyer and will be briefed on INDO-PACOM activities.
In her talks with Defence Secretary James Mattis on Monday, Sitharaman said that India saw the US as an important partner in defence.
"We have good military-to-military cooperation, defence consultations, scientific and R&D work, defence trade, co-production and co-development, and industry collaboration," she said.
UNI SRJ