US recognises India as ‘major defence partner’

THE US has recognised India as a “major defence partner”, a significant move for the country to be treated on par with America’s closest allies for defence related trade and technology transfer.

The two sides also finalised Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement to facilitate mutual logistic support for authorised port visits, joint exercises, joint training and HA-DR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief).

The MoU is likely to be signed soon, a senior Obama administration official told reporters.

“Noting that the US-India defence relationship can be ananchorof stabilityandgiven the increasingly strengthened cooperation in defence, the United States hereby recognises India as a Major Defence Partner,” said a joint statement issued after Prime MinisterNarendraModiheld talks with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

According to the statement, under the ‘Major Defence Partner’ recognition, the US will continue to work toward facilitating technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of itsclosestalliesandpartners.

The White House also said that the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Modi resulted in progress on finalising some key defence agreements between India and the US.

“I can tell you that there was important progress on finalising agreements relating todefencelogistics,sharingof maritime information, and even the movement of US aircraft carriers in the region,” White House Press Secretary JoshEarnesttoldreportersat his daily news conference.

The joint statement said, “the leaders reached an understanding under which India would receive license-free accesstoawiderangeof dualuse technologies in conjunction with steps that India has committed to take to advance its export control objectives.”

Insupportof India’s‘Make In India’ initiative, the statement said the US will continue to facilitate the export of goods and technologies, consistent with US law, for projects and joint ventures in support of official US-India defence cooperation. PTI