US defense chief Austin visits India to boost military ties

News, US June 6, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to India for a two-day visit on June 4-5, 2023. Austin met with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The two sides exchanged perspectives on booting military cooperation and deepening partnership in critical domains.

Austin was welcomed by the Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh as the two defense chiefs had a bilateral meeting shortly after. The meeting focused on the development of a new ‘Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation’, which 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.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Defense, the initiative aims to change the paradigm for cooperation between U.S. and Indian defense sectors, including a set of specific proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies and support India’s defense modernization plans.

“I’m returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership. Together, we’re advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Austin tweeted after he arrived in New Delhi on June 4.

I’m returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership.

Together, we’re advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/P73Oy2npDx
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 4, 2023

Austin and Singh also discussed the possibilities to strengthen India’s domestic defense industry and pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation and to initiate negotiations on a Security of Supply Arrangement and a Reciprocal Defense Procurement agreement, which will promote long-term supply chain stability.

Pentagon Chief also met with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. His meeting with Doval focused on boosting U.S.-India cooperation in space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Austin’s trip to New Delhi comes only a few days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi’s expected trip to Washington. It is being speculated that India would conclude its estimated $2 billion deal to buy 18 armed high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems during Modi’s trip to the United States. India plans to deploy combat drones in border areas close to Pakistan and China.

*^{U.S. defense delegation led by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meeting with Indian delegation led by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, India. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

Austin arrived in India after participating in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual gathering of high-level military officials, defense ministers, diplomats, security analysts, and arms makers from around the world. In Singapore, Austin lobbied for Washington’s vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific region” to counter China’s increasing influence in the region. Austin’s visit to India is also a part of the U.S.’s attempt to boost India’s capabilities to rival China’s increasing military influence in the region.

India is on a tight diplomatic rope, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the Modi administration struggles to balance its relations between Washington and Moscow. India is attempting to reduce its dependency on Russian-made weapons in favor of U.S. and French-made weapons while increasing the purchase of Russian oil products due to their decreased prices.