India, US to start a new era of defense cooperation

Washington: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to the United States, officials from the two countries held discussions on co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery and infantry vehicles under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET). Has accelerated. India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and US NSA Jake Sullivan launched the ICET earlier this year.

This was done at the direction of US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who agreed to enhance and expand strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses and academic institutions of the two countries after their Tokyo meeting in May 2022. was announced. countries.

In a meeting with Indian Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane at the Pentagon, US Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks raised proposals for co-production of jet engines, long-range artillery and infantry fighting vehicles under the ICET to strengthen ties between the defense sectors. dubbed an “unprecedented opportunity” for two nations.

Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said the two officials discussed priorities to strengthen the US-India defense partnership, including increasing defense industrial cooperation and operational cooperation. Hicks highlighted the importance of the US-India relationship in promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Pahon said he also reiterated the importance of deepening military-to-military ties between the two countries as technology partnerships grow.

Reiterating US support for India’s defense modernization objectives, including increased investment in Indian domestic manufacturing, Hicks and Armane welcomed the upcoming launch of the Indus-X ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the United States in June. He also highlighted its value as an opportunity to foster partnership between the defense innovation ecosystem of the two countries.

A day earlier both the officials co-chaired the 17th US-India Defense Policy Group meeting. US Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. David Herndon said the dialogue put forward an ambitious agenda — including industrial cooperation, information-sharing, maritime security, and technical cooperation — that would promote a stronger and broader defense relationship between the United States and India. It reflects.

“The officials exchanged views on shared priorities in the Indian Ocean region and on aligning the US-India partnership with other like-minded partnerships to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.” The leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the US. And for the Indian forces to work together across all domains and all services,” the spokesperson said.