Tue Jul 01 16:59:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
On July 1, 2025, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, thanking the U.S. for its support during Operation Sindoor. Singh reiterated India’s right to defend itself against cross-border terrorism and stated that India’s actions were measured and focused on disabling terrorist infrastructure. The two leaders discussed strengthening India-U.S. defence cooperation, including the timely delivery of General Electric jet engines for Tejas aircraft, establishing a production unit for jet engines in India, and the delivery of Apache helicopters. Hegseth invited Singh for an in-person meeting in the U.S. The ministers also discussed long-term cooperation, military exchanges, industry collaboration, interoperability, logistics sharing, and joint military exercises.
**News Article:**
**India Thanks U.S. for Support in Operation Sindoor, Reaffirms Right to Self-Defense**
**New Delhi, July 1, 2025** – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today, expressing gratitude for the United States’ support during Operation Sindoor. Singh firmly stated India’s right to pre-empt and deter cross-border terrorism and to defend itself against such threats.
“India’s actions during the operation were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and focused on disabling terrorist infrastructure,” Singh told Hegseth.
This was the first conversation between the two leaders since Operation Sindoor and their third since Hegseth assumed office in January. Their last discussion occurred shortly after the Pahalgam attack on April 22nd.
During the 20-minute call, Secretary Hegseth extended an invitation for Minister Singh to visit the U.S. for an in-person meeting to further bolster the bilateral defence partnership.
Singh emphasized the importance of the timely delivery of U.S.-made General Electric engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and discussed the potential for establishing a jet engine production unit within India. Hegseth assured Singh of the timely delivery of the engines and committed to establishing the production unit within a set timeframe. He also confirmed the delivery of U.S.-made Apache AH-64E helicopters by the end of the year.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the leaders explored a wide range of issues, including long-term defence cooperation, training, military exchanges, industry collaboration, interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises, and cooperation with like-minded partners.
Minister Singh expressed his appreciation for the unwavering U.S. support in India’s fight against terrorism and commended Secretary Hegseth for his leadership in strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
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