“We were strangers in defence cooperation at the turn of the century. Now, the United States has become one of our most important defence partners,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the joint session of the US Congress during his state visit in June 2023. “Today India and the US are working together, in space and in the seas, in science and in semiconductors, in start-ups and sustainability, in tech and in trade, in farming and finance, in art and artificial intelligence, in energy and education, in healthcare and humanitarian efforts.”
The Indo-US strategic partnership is especially significant because down the line it’s not an ally relationship but one of equal partners and strategic interest in China. The India-US defence and strategic ties have been on an upswing in the last few years. The two countries have inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies. The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and also provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India. In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) pact to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for the sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
In the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first official state visit to the US, though there has been a significant paradigm shift and incredible momentum in the US-India defence relationship and both countries are geared toward expanding technological and defence cooperation as they attempt to face China’s expansion in the Indo-pacific region and beyond. India and the US have entered into a next-generation defence partnership with two key deals – a Jet Engine technology transfer between GE and HAL and an armed drone acquisition deal with General Atomics.
The GE Hindustan Aeronautics limited deal to jointly produce F-414 jet engines in India means a greater transfer of U.S. jet engine technology than ever before. Under the deal, India will get 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs, of which the Navy will get 15 SeaGuardian drones, while the Army and the Indian Air Force will get eight each of the land version, SkyGuardian. This acquisition will greatly increase India’s intelligence gathering and reconnaissance capabilities, especially along the border areas. A master ship repair agreement has been initiated between the U.S. Navy and Larsen and Toubro shipyard in Chennai and two other such Agreements are close to being finalised. These will allow U.S. naval vessels deployed in the Indo-Pacific region to undergo service and repair at Indian shipyards. Both nations are expanding their defence partnership with more joint exercises, more cooperation between defence Industries and more consultation and coordination across all domains. The GE engine deal is expected to be wrapped up before the summer with a final contract on components and costs. The US State Department in February approved the sale of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 3.99 billion.
Addressing a conference on ‘Strengthening Indo-US Relationship’ organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India and the US are “natural partners” and the cooperation between the two countries would act as a force multiplier for a rules-based world order, amid increasing global concerns over China’s military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Launched in June 2023 during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) has been at the forefront of expanding bilateral ties in defence innovation. Through the INDUS-X mechanism India and the US focused on advancing bilateral defence innovation and collaboration. The most recent INDUS-X summit held earlier this year in New Delhi was a pivotal moment for advancing defence innovation and collaboration, setting the stage for future technological advancements and strategic partnerships, and stimulating cross-national science and technology networks.
Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs has termed the India- US relationship most important for the US in the 21st century. Reiterating that Washington is destined to work more closely with New Delhi, the top American diplomat has termed the actions by China “provocative and deeply concerning to Indian partners and friends.” The increased prospect of India-China border hostility has implications for the US and its Indo-Pacific strategy between the two Asian giants.
The India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held last year underscored a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, recognizing the escalating security challenges posed by China. US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, has emphasised the significant strides made in enhancing the India-US defence partnership. Speaking on the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Garcetti underscored the commitment to a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, “India-US collaboration and cooperation in emerging domains, and also more importantly, because we sometimes just focus on weapons and what’s being sold, or potentially co-developed. But the operational level of our militaries, which I think is as critical as any equipment, and our countries discuss ways to deepen our science and our technology partnerships to harness technology with the global good instead of technology that harms us than divides us, technology that can connect us and protect us.”
The joint statement released post-‘2+2’ ministerial dialogue outlined the establishment of new liaison positions to improve communication and cooperation between the armed forces of both nations. A noteworthy aspect of this collaboration is the impending finalisation of the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA). This arrangement aims to integrate the defence industrial ecosystems of both nations, fortifying supply chain resilience.
Through back-to-back high-level exchanges India and US are exhibiting a mutual desire to enhance military collaboration, exchange strategic perspectives on global threat perceptions, and work together toward future force development and modernisation.
Recently the Americans have proposed, once again, joint production of the Javelin anti-tank missile, an offer first made in 2013. But things got stuck over tech transfer and pricing. The offer to co-produce the Stryker armoured combat vehicle is also moving along. In a significant display of military collaboration and shared expertise, the 14th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise, “Vajra Prahar 2023,” was conducted at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya in December 2023.
Recently, US NSA General Randy George visited India for the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC) that was jointly hosted by the Indian Army and the US Army. The conference was attended by 18 Chiefs of Armies and 12 countries represented by Heads of Delegations. Subsequently Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande embarked on a four-day official tour to the US, starting February 13 and engaged in high-level discussions and interactions with General Randy George, and senior military leaders.
India and the US are collaborating in forums like the QUAD, the Indo-Pacific economic framework and now there is a greater focus on critical and emerging technology all of these up pulling the two countries together with or without a formal trade agreement. For India, the US is now a ‘Comprehensive Global Strategic Partner,’ on which it has chosen to rely to build and strengthen its defence and security capabilities, without being an alliance treaty partner. The multifaceted nature of the India-US relationship, spanning military, scientific, and space cooperation, and shared security challenges have led to the integration of industrial bases, strengthened interoperability, and the sharing of cutting-edge technology.
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