US desperate on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation with India

Washington, February 15: The bilateral relations between India and the United States have been strengthened especially in Trade and defence sector since Prime Minister Modi led government came to power. However, United States is now more eager for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation with India as Washington is now willing to sell more weapons to New Delhi.

 

Notably, a top American commander told lawmakers on Thursday that the United States needs to be creative in how it insists India on signing the foundational agreements, which the US considers important for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation with India.

During a Congressional hearing, Admiral Harry J Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command, said, "I think we need to be creative in how we insist on that application in India and work with the Indians so that together we can come to a place where we can realize this major defence partner moniker”

"We designated India in 2016 and in 2017 we continued that work. I think in 2018, this is the year to get things done. That means we have to do things on our side as well," Harris noted while referring to the three foundational agreements that the US wants India to sign in.

Importantly, in the year 2016, India was designated as a major defence partner by the then Obama Administration, which the Trump administration continued within 2017.

While responding to a question from Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, said, "I do believe that India is our great strategic opportunity, shared values, shared concerns, and all of that. They are the only country in the world that's designated as major defence partner and we need to, we the United States, we need to continue to look for ways to turn that term into reality." "We have a great opportunity coming up in India to improve the capability of their defence forces," Harris added.

Meanwhile, in response to another question, Harris said that Washington views India as one of the biggest strategic opportunities that the US has. "I think that the opportunities with India, a country that shares our democratic values, the largest democracy in the world, and a friend of the United States - it's important that we continue to - to work closely with India, and we continue to provide things for the Indian military and that we continue the mil-to-mil relationship with the Indian armed forces," Harris concluded.

Admiral Harry J Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command recently visited India to attend the Raisina Dialogue. Interestingly, Washington is willing to sell more weapons to India but New Delhi has been objecting to some of the provisions of the foundational agreement and therefore deals are stuck.