The military partnership between India and the United States continues to be strong and broad, the Pentagon said on Thursday. According to Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, the cooperation is increasing, and the ties between the armed forces of the two nations are getting stronger. She said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has hosted Indian delegations in Washington and has made a trip to India to meet his counterparts, reflecting a growing and deepening partnership.
Sabrina Singh further stated that U.S. and Indian militaries are conducting joint exercises, making them even closer partners in the process. She, however, refused to make public a comprehensive list of commitments and announcements made during the latest visit of Secretary Austin to India. Still, she mentioned that among several other major developments, the establishment of a production facility in India can be considered a major indication of the growing military partnership between the two major countries.
Speaking recently to the parliamentarians, Secretary Austin said that enhancing the military capabilities of India is crucial for maintaining a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. and Indian militaries are also increasing their operational activities to provide better maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
The U.S. and India launched the INDUS-X Initiative in 2023 and finalized a roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation. This roadmap puts in place the overall bilateral defense industrial cooperation to spur innovation. A flagship example of this approach is the proposed agreement between GE Aerospace of US and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited of India for the local production of F-414 jet engines in India. The deal underlines the commitment towards stronger defense ties between the two countries and reinforces the industrial capability of both nations.
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