On June 3, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter signed a strategically significant 10-Year Defense Framework Agreement with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, in New Delhi.
This defense cooperation forms a vital component of a U.S.–India strategic partnership that is only deepening.
From Prickly to Partnership
The U.S.–India relationship has evolved—from a wary association during the Cold War period to a strategic partnership.
There are shared security interests, mainly the concerns about Chinese military ascendancy and the post-9/11 Islamic terrorism security threat. And there is growing business and professional collaboration. The increasingly influential Indian-American lobby and India’s economic liberalization have both led to increased interaction between the two countries.
Yes, there were a few hiccups over the course of the last few years—notably controversy over legislation regulating civilian nuclear operators’ liability and the row over diplomat Devyani Khobragade’s treatment of her maid while stationed in New York.
But, two summit-level meetings, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States in September 2014 and President Obama’s visit to India in January 2015, have rejuvenated the India–U.S. strategic partnership.
It was during President Obama’s trip to India that the decision was made to extend the defense agreement for a further 10 years.
This defense pact is significant for the U.S.–India defense industry and economic relations. But it has a much wider context too.
What’s Been Agreed
The new defense framework pact envisions the joint development and manufacture of defense equipment and technology including jet engines, aircraft carrier design, and construction.
It focuses on issues ranging from maritime security to joint training. And it builds upon the previous framework’s successes to guide the bilateral defense and strategic partnership by providing avenues for high-level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between armed forces and strengthening of defense capabilities.
This represents dramatic progress since the signing of the U.S.–India defense agreement in 2005, both in terms of the volume of defense trade and the frequency of joint military exercises.
