India and the US held extensive talks on Wednesday — a little more than a month before Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington — with the primary issues of discussion involving the operationalisation of their “Major Defence Partnership” and the joint development of military platforms.
Overview
Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Dr Colin Kahl co-chaired the 17th US-India Defence Policy Group (DPG) alongside Defence Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Defence Giridhar Aramane. The discussion included significant issues such as military-to-military cooperation, implementing fundamental defence agreements, exercises, and current and future joint actions in the Indian Ocean region.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration and interoperability between the US and Indian militaries in all fields and services. The Ministry described the talks as “cordial and productive.”
During the meeting, significant emphasis was placed on improving defence-industrial cooperation, such as technological partnerships, long-term research and development, and increasing supply chain security.
The meeting discussed measures to promote co-development and co-production in India and prospective sectors and projects where Indian and US security firms may collaborate. They agreed to boost defence start-ups and encourage private and government stakeholders to use innovation ecosystems.
The DPG is the highest-level formal mechanism between India’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department. It examines and provides direction for every facet of bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on policy.
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Dr Colin Kahl co-chaired 17th meeting of India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) in Washington DC. 🇮🇳-🇺🇸@DefenceMinIndia @IndianEmbassyUS @SpokespersonMoD @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/kTC2IaRRa6
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 18, 2023
India-US Defence Relations
The US classified India as a “Major Defence Partner” in June 2016, paving the way for exchanging essential military equipment and technology.
The two nations have signed many major defence and security treaties in recent years, notably the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, which allows both forces to utilise each other’s facilities for supply maintenance and replenishment.
Additionally, India and the US signed the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018, which permits the sale of advanced US technology to India and military cooperation between both countries, and the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Deal) deal in October 2020 to strengthen their mutual defence cooperation. BECA stipulates the exchange of advanced military equipment, logistics, and geospatial mapping between the two nations.
Prior to Modi’s upcoming 22 June visit, Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, recently emphasised the growing partnership between Washington and New Delhi.
Patel stated, “Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relations and we were close with India on a number of vital priorities. The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships.”