India, US signed documents to renew defence pact
Agreement roadmap for bilateral defence ties over the next decade.
Ashton Carter inspects a guard of honour in New Delhi on Wednesday.(Express Photo by: Anil Sharma)
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter Wednesday signed the documents to renew the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement (DFA) between India and US, as agreed upon during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit last year.
The agreement, which is a renewal of the existing framework — with some additions — provides the roadmap for defence ties with India and the US over the next decade.The renewed agreement has provisions for high-level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between armed forces of the two countries and strengthening of defence capabilities.
The two sides also finalised two project agreements on the joint development of Mobile Electric Hybrid Power Sources and the Next Generation Protective Ensembles. The two projects are among the four pathfinder projects, the joint development of which was agreed upon under Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) during US President Barack Obama’s January visit. India and US also agreed to expedite discussions on cooperation on jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, among other areas.
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A Defence Ministry statement said India and US also agreed to pursue co-development and co-production projects that will offer tangible opportunities for American defence industries to build defence partnership with their Indian counterparts including manufacturing under the ‘Make in India initiative. “Raksha Mantri and Secretary Carter agreed to continue their efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as maritime security and knowledge partnership in the field of defence,” the statement added.
Carter earlier met PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The signing of DFA assumes significance when seen against the backdrop of US re-balance strategy towards the Asia-Pacific region. Delivering the keynote address at the Shangri La dialogue in Singapore, Carter had expressed concern over Chinese activities in South China Sea.
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