India pushes US for access to dualuse tech

NEW DELHI: India is trying to get faster access to dual-use (civilian and defence) and defence technologies from the US and will push for an upgradation in its status in the so-called Strategic Trade Authorisation or STA licence exemption regime in the April 18 meeting in Washington.

NEW DELHI: India is trying to get faster access to dual-use (civilian and defence) and defence technologies from the US and will push for an upgradation in its status in the so-called Strategic Trade Authorization or STA license exemption regime in the April 18 meeting with the US in Washington. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be meeting their US counterparts, Rex Tillerson and James Mattis, next month in Washington and India’s thinking is that the upgradation of its status is only in keeping with its relationship with the US. US and Indian diplomats told Hindustan Times that both sides are working towards making New Delhi a Tier one STA license exemption partner along with 36 of Washington’s closest allies in that group so that hurdles in accessing high end space, aeronautics, defence and software technologies are removed.

India as of now is in Tier II, a group of eight countries that includes Albania, Malta and South Africa. For the past year, India has been reminding the US that if it considers New Delhi a close ally then the country should have faster clearances, non-intrusive end-use verification and access when it comes to top end technologies.

“Upgradation of India to Tier 1 of STA will be the first step towards pushing the bilateral relationship to a new level. This issue will be taken up in the twoplus-two dialogue and there are indications of forward momentum being recorded in the first round of dialogue,” said a senior Indian government official who asked not to be identified.