US to press India on F-16, F-18 deal
WASHINGTON: The US said it was up to India to clinch a deal to co-produce F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, adding that the agreement would “enhance interoperability” between the two militaries.
“We strongly support these transfers,” Alicia Wells, a senior state department official told a subcommittee of the House of Representatives on Thursday .“If India can seize these opportunities, we can enhance interoperability between ourmilitaries and support jobs in both countries.”
India is in the market for the joint-production of single-engine fighter jets, and US firm Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and Swedish Saab’s Gripen are competing for the contract.
US firm Boeing’s F-18 is in the race to sell deck-based fighters to the Indian Navy, and is competing with French, Swedish and Russian firms. A global tender is expected in 2018.
In a written testimony, Wells drew an extremely positive picture of the state of bilateral ties, quoting President Donald Trump during PM Na rend ra Mo di’ s visit in June. The US president had said that the “relationship between India and the US has never been stronger”.
However, there is a wrinkle— the deficit in bilateral trade.
“We do need to do more to balance the trade deficit between our two countries, which totalled nearly $30 billion last year,” Wells said. “We are working closely with US trade representative and the commerce department to address the concerns of the US business community regarding India that limit market access and impede US exporters from entering Indian market.”
The commerce department is currently in the final stages of a review of a country-wise breakdown of its trade deficit, as ordered by Trump. The department will also recommend follow-up action, which could include punitive action if the deficit was caused by unfair practices.
US ON INDIA’S ROLE INAFGHANISTAN
The US on Thursday said India has legitimate security interests in Afghanistan as Pakistan, in the context of Trump’s South Asia policy that required Delhi to play alarger role in war-torn country.
“Just as Pakistan has very real and legitimate security interests in Afghanistan, so does India,” said Wells .“We would like to see, and appreciate, constructive economic investment in Afghanistan’s stability and institutional stability.