U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reaffirmed the strategic importance of the U.S.-India defense relationship. The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of maritime security. In this context, they reaffirmed their desire to expeditiously conclude a “white shipping” technical arrangement to improve data sharing on commercial shipping traffic. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, including in the South China Sea.
