WASHINGTON - The United States Defense Secretary James Mattis in a meeting with India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, at the Pentagon on Friday said the two countries are faced with common threats, the Associated Press reported.
The two sides discussed strengthening the relationship between India and U.S, the report said.
"We're delighted to have you here. Democracies like ours need this sort of dialogue and we've had a strengthening of the relationship over the last several years. And no relationship stays the same. They either decline or they get better, they get stronger and our intent here today is to continue to strengthen the relationship and to make certain it gets stronger every year, between two democracies that have many common interests, many common security challenges," Mattis said.
Meanwhile, India’s National Security Advisor said the two countries are interested to work together.
"We share the values, we share the democracy, we all have a very common objective and interest. Both of the regions, that I come from and also globally, that we are able to work together, share our ideas and thoughts and bring about some new innovative changes and improvements,” he added.
This was Doval's first meeting with Mattis.  (Tolonews)