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US, India look to seal deals before Obama's Nov visit
New Delhi: The ministries of defence and external affairs are involved in a flurry of activities ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit to India in November. Defence minister AK Antonys visit to the US at end of the month, which will follow the visits of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and minister of commerce and trade Anand Sharma, comes in the backdrop of defence-related agreements with the US like the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), the End-User agreement and the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). These agreements will ease high-tech defence exports to India.
The US is trying hard to ensure that most of the agreements with India are formalised ahead of Obamas visit. Antonys visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to Indo-US defence ties, which are currently down owing to the absence of a proper framework and trust deficit issues.
Inter-operability is the key word for the US in the ever expanding lexicon of the Indo-US defence ties. The development of inter-operability procedures, communications and doctrines is only possible through familiarisation, understanding and building confidence, focusing on areas of mutual interest, and enhancing the professional development of personnel, sources said.
Early last month, a team from the Pentagon, led by US under-secretary of defence on policy Michèle Flournoy, interacted with their Indian defence ministry counterparts to prepare for a meeting of the Defence Policy Group, the joint committee headed by top civilian bureaucrats in the two defence ministries that charts bilateral defence cooperation. Both the sides had exchanged notes on fostering greater cooperation in defence through more equipment sales, greater joint exercises, frequent high-level exchanges and the possibility of inking three military agreements.
Flournoy had maintained that the US viewed India as a natural partner and indicated Washingtons wish list vis-à-vis New Delhi in the area of defence. The list includes buying more American-origin defence equipment, realistic joint exercises and stepped-up visits by officers of Indian armed forces.
Describing the three military agreements, which the US has been pursuing with India, as foundational in nature, Flournoy had said the three agreements being offered have been inked with many close partners, and this has enabled the Pentagon to offer cutting-edge defence technology. They also allow the US to share the next higher level of technology. She, however, went on to clarify, It is not a requirement (for closer cooperation). It is a choice of the government of India.
New Delhi: The ministries of defence and external affairs are involved in a flurry of activities ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit to India in November. Defence minister AK Antonys visit to the US at end of the month, which will follow the visits of foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and minister of commerce and trade Anand Sharma, comes in the backdrop of defence-related agreements with the US like the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), the End-User agreement and the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA). These agreements will ease high-tech defence exports to India.
The US is trying hard to ensure that most of the agreements with India are formalised ahead of Obamas visit. Antonys visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to Indo-US defence ties, which are currently down owing to the absence of a proper framework and trust deficit issues.
Inter-operability is the key word for the US in the ever expanding lexicon of the Indo-US defence ties. The development of inter-operability procedures, communications and doctrines is only possible through familiarisation, understanding and building confidence, focusing on areas of mutual interest, and enhancing the professional development of personnel, sources said.
Early last month, a team from the Pentagon, led by US under-secretary of defence on policy Michèle Flournoy, interacted with their Indian defence ministry counterparts to prepare for a meeting of the Defence Policy Group, the joint committee headed by top civilian bureaucrats in the two defence ministries that charts bilateral defence cooperation. Both the sides had exchanged notes on fostering greater cooperation in defence through more equipment sales, greater joint exercises, frequent high-level exchanges and the possibility of inking three military agreements.
Flournoy had maintained that the US viewed India as a natural partner and indicated Washingtons wish list vis-à-vis New Delhi in the area of defence. The list includes buying more American-origin defence equipment, realistic joint exercises and stepped-up visits by officers of Indian armed forces.
Describing the three military agreements, which the US has been pursuing with India, as foundational in nature, Flournoy had said the three agreements being offered have been inked with many close partners, and this has enabled the Pentagon to offer cutting-edge defence technology. They also allow the US to share the next higher level of technology. She, however, went on to clarify, It is not a requirement (for closer cooperation). It is a choice of the government of India.
