US, India agree roadmap for defence industry cooperation

• India and the United States have concluded a roadmap for defence industry cooperation for the next few years, the two countries said on 5 Jun, a landmark move expected to bolster New Delhi’s defence manufacturing ambitions.
• Washington is working to deepen ties with India and sees stronger military-to-military and technology ties with the world’s largest democracy as a key counterweight to China’s dominance in the region.
• It is also seeking to wean New Delhi away from its traditional dependence on Russia for defence supplies.
• The roadmap was finalised at a meeting between visiting U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The move aims to change the “paradigm” for defence sector cooperation between the two countries, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.
• It will “fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas such as air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain”, it said.
• The roadmap includes specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies, it said, adding that Austin and Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation.

External Link : https://www.reuters.com/world/us-india-conclude-roadmap-defence-industrial-cooperation-2023-06-05/