The 21^st edition of India – US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted from 05 to 06 November 2024 in India. Photo Credit: U. S. Indo-Pacific Command.

on November 11, 2024

U.S. and India Hold 21st Military Cooperation Group

By Diplomatic Correspondent

The 21^st edition of US- India Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was conducted from 05 to 06 November 2024 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including capacity building, training exchanges, defense industrial cooperation and the advancement of joint exercises that bolster preparedness for conventional and hybrid threats.

Chief of Integrated Defense Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), Lt. Gen. Johnson P. Mathew, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, co-chaired the event.

This latest meeting advanced shared objectives to strengthen U.S.-India military-to-military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, including the expansion of defense cooperation across all domains, including cyber and space, said US Indo-Pacific Command in a statement.

“We have a shared vision,” said Rudd. “Being the oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy signifies much more than our form of governance. It defines who we are and outlines our core values; freedom, equality, respect for all humans and respect for this earth upon which we reside - together. We have no better opportunity to build on our success than with the renewal of the U.S.-India Defense Framework scheduled in 2025. This is our opportunity to write the future and continue a positive trajectory for our relationship and cooperation for decades to come.”

As U.S.-India defense cooperation continues to deepen, the MCG reinforces key milestones such as the August signing of a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the assignment of Liaison Officers, which will facilitate the posting of an Indian military officer at USINDOPACOM Headquarters.

This year’s engagement included senior leadership from U.S. Cyber Command and U.S. Space Command to highlight the increasing importance of emerging domains. Representatives from U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command also attended, reinforcing the global importance of the U.S.-India military-to-military relationship.