New Delhi, Dec. 27 -- The year saw Ministry of Defence take defence cooperation with its friendly countries to the next level through visits of the dignitaries and military exercises, a statement by the Ministry of Defence said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff, three Service Chiefs and Defence Secretary undertook visits to various nations with the aim to strengthen defence ties with them, the statement said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited US from August 23-26. He met US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, during which the two Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, regional security and other international...