CNN
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The United States and India are taking steps to strengthen their defense partnership, officials said Tuesday.
The plans emerged after a two-day meeting in Washington between government and business officials from both countries and included greater cooperation on military-related industries and operational coordination in the Indo-Pacific. I’m here.
Key to that is cooperation on the development of jet engines and military technology, according to a White House fact sheet. Specifically, the U.S. government said it would consider expediting the review of an application by U.S. manufacturer General Electric to manufacture jet engines in India for use in Indian-made aircraft.
Operationally, the U.S. and Indian militaries will aim to build maritime security and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the factsheet says.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks told India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that “building alliances and partnerships is a top priority” for the Pentagon, according to a Pentagon statement. said.
Hicks said building partnerships is a key goal of the US 2022 Defense Strategy, calling China a “growing multi-domain threat.”
While the United States has seen China build up its military strength in areas near Taiwan and Japan, an important U.S. ally, India’s forces are in an unclear position between the two countries in the Himalayan highlands. They are clashing with the Chinese military along the actual line of control, which is a borderline.
The United States and India, along with Japan and Australia, are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (known as Quad), an informal group focused on security dating back to the early 2000s. It has become more active in recent years as part of efforts to counter China’s influence and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific.
On the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo last May, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).
This week’s conference was the first under the scheme and brought together dozens of government officials, industry CEOs and senior researchers from both countries.
In addition to defense technology, Washington and New Delhi will work to “increase international cooperation in a range of areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology and advanced wireless,” according to a White House fact sheet.
A major industrial part of the meeting was an agreement to develop the semiconductor industry in India. India has the educated and skilled workforce needed to become a major player in building these key components.
Additionally, the two countries pledged to support the development of next-generation telecommunications in India, including 5G and 6G advanced cellular technologies.
Washington and New Delhi also agreed to strengthen cooperation in space, including helping India develop astronauts, its commercial space sector and a role in planetary defense.
