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Recently, India has resolved to intensify defence cooperation with the US’s Central Command in Florida and with the Commands in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa, during the US Secretary of Defense’s visit to India.
- The bilateral discussion covered military-to-military engagement across services, information sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defence and mutual logistics support.
Key Highlights
- Foundational Agreements
- Both countries acknowledged the foundational defence agreements like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA).
- They discussed steps to be taken to realise their full potential for mutual benefit.
- Russian S-400 Missile
- The visit is crucial as it comes in the midst of expectations that the US is likely to take some action over India’s plans to acquire the Russian S-400 missile defence system.
- It could attract US sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
- China and Indo-Pacific
- China’s growing military activities in the South China Sea region is a concern for both India and the US.
- India stands for freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law which is a resounding affirmation of its shared vision for regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
- The growing India-US defence partnership is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- Quadrilateral Framework (QUAD): India and the US along with Japan and Australia emphasise the collective resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
- Afghanistan Peace Process
- In Afghanistan, the discussions are underway over whether the US will stick to its 1st May deadline to pull out all remaining troops and how it will proceed forward in the Intra-Afghan dialogue.
- In the process, it is important that India expresses its sense of the situation in Afghanistan, given its important role there.
- Military Exercises
- Both countries reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation.
- Malabar: Naval exercise among India, US and Japan.
- Yudh Abhyas: Army exercise between India and the US.
- Both countries reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation.
- Non-traditional Challenges and FDI
- Both sides also discussed non-traditional challenges like oil spills and environmental disasters, drug trafficking, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing as well.
- India also welcomed the US industries to take advantage of India’s liberalised Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies in the defence sector.
- Significance
- The India-US partnership is a “central pillar” of the American policy for greater maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
- India in particular is an increasingly important partner among today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics and the US reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India.
- The warm and close relationship between the two countries is rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism and commitment to a rules-based order.
India-US Defence Agreements
Countering America’s Adversaries Through the Sanctions Act
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Source: TH
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