Washington sees deeper ties with Delhi as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region
05 June 2023 - 17:14
byYP Rajesh
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US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin shakes hands with India’s defence chief of staff Chauhan during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi, India, June 5 2023. Picture: ANUSHREE FADNAVIS/REUTERS
New Delhi — India and the US have concluded an agreement on defence industry co-operation for the next few years, the two countries said on Monday, a landmark move expected to bolster New Delhi’s defence manufacturing ambitions.
Washington is working to deepen ties with India and sees stronger military-to-military and technology ties with the world’s largest democracy as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region.
It is also seeking to wean New Delhi away from its traditional dependence on Russia for defence supplies.
The agreement was finalised at a meeting between visiting US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh.
It comes weeks before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington on June 22 for an official state visit and holds talks with President Joe Biden.
The roadmap is considered significant as Washington maintains strict controls over what domestic military technology can be shared or sold to other countries.
Technology co-operation
The move aims to change the “paradigm” for defence sector co-operation between the two countries, the US Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.
It will “fast-track technology co-operation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain”, it said.
The roadmap includes specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies, it said, adding that Austin and Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry co-operation.
India, the world’s largest arms importer, depends on Russia for nearly half its military supplies, but has also increasingly diversified its sources to buy from the US, France and Israel, among other countries.
New Delhi also wants global defence manufacturers to partner with Indian companies and produce arms and military equipment in India for local consumption as well as exports.
The Biden administration is set to sign off on a deal that will allow General Electric to produce in India jet engines powering Indian military aircraft.
Austin said he and Singh had discussed ways to increase information sharing and new initiatives to improve maritime co-operation, including in the undersea domain.
The US-India defence partnership matters, he told reporters, because “we face a rapidly changing world”.
“We see bullying and coercion from the People’s Republic of China, Russian aggression against Ukraine that seeks to redraw borders by force and threatens national sovereignty, as well as transnational challenges such as terrorism, climate change.
“So democracies must now rally together around not just our common interests, but also our shared values,” Austin said.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
India and US discuss defence co-operation
Washington sees deeper ties with Delhi as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region
New Delhi — India and the US have concluded an agreement on defence industry co-operation for the next few years, the two countries said on Monday, a landmark move expected to bolster New Delhi’s defence manufacturing ambitions.
Washington is working to deepen ties with India and sees stronger military-to-military and technology ties with the world’s largest democracy as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region.
It is also seeking to wean New Delhi away from its traditional dependence on Russia for defence supplies.
The agreement was finalised at a meeting between visiting US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh.
It comes weeks before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington on June 22 for an official state visit and holds talks with President Joe Biden.
The roadmap is considered significant as Washington maintains strict controls over what domestic military technology can be shared or sold to other countries.
Technology co-operation
The move aims to change the “paradigm” for defence sector co-operation between the two countries, the US Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.
It will “fast-track technology co-operation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain”, it said.
The roadmap includes specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies, it said, adding that Austin and Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry co-operation.
India, the world’s largest arms importer, depends on Russia for nearly half its military supplies, but has also increasingly diversified its sources to buy from the US, France and Israel, among other countries.
New Delhi also wants global defence manufacturers to partner with Indian companies and produce arms and military equipment in India for local consumption as well as exports.
The Biden administration is set to sign off on a deal that will allow General Electric to produce in India jet engines powering Indian military aircraft.
Austin said he and Singh had discussed ways to increase information sharing and new initiatives to improve maritime co-operation, including in the undersea domain.
The US-India defence partnership matters, he told reporters, because “we face a rapidly changing world”.
“We see bullying and coercion from the People’s Republic of China, Russian aggression against Ukraine that seeks to redraw borders by force and threatens national sovereignty, as well as transnational challenges such as terrorism, climate change.
“So democracies must now rally together around not just our common interests, but also our shared values,” Austin said.
Reuters
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