The US House of Representatives has passed a $621.5 billion defence expenditure bill that proposes to advance defence cooperation with India.
What happened?
An amendment in this regard was adopted by a voice vote by the House as part of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018.
Following the passage of the NDAA, the Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State will have 180 days to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the United States and India.
NDAA needs to be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to the White House for the US President to sign into law.
The previous NDAA-2017 had designated India as a major defence partner which brings India at par with closest American partners in terms of defence trade and technology transfer.
What is the significance?
The relationship creates a high level of dialogue in the Pentagon on a range of issues.
It is vitally important to develop a strategy that advances defence cooperation between our two nations.
It addresses critical issues like common security challenges, the role of partners and allies, and areas for collaboration in science and technology.
It would enhance both of our defence and our ability to meet the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.
We have the same interests in upholding this international system that upholds the rule of law and favours freedom of navigation, open sea lanes of communication, and freedom of over flight.
Those are values that are critically important to the United States and India to our economic prosperity and to our access in the region.
