US Defence Secretary to visit in June to ink defence agreement

[special]

The new US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will be visiting India in June and will sign the enhanced Defence Framework Agreement for the next ten years between the two countries. Also on the agenda will be the nearly USD 2.5-billion deal for 22 Apache and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters besides taking forward the talks on proposed co-development and co-production of military technology, ranging from aircraft carrier launch systems to mini drones.

Pointing out that India and US are tracking some 77 different line of effort that came out of President Barack Obama’s visit here, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said, “We have re-energised or launched 30 new initiatives, 30 different dialogue”.

He said that the US Embassy here has every element of American government and at any given day, they are interacting with some element of the Indian government, adding “we are not going to let the momentum go”.

“I think that is a very good thing and a very positive thing. We are not going to let the momentum go and and we are not going to slow down what has been accomplished,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to the next high-level dialogue between the two governments in June.

He said Carter will be here in early part of June and US was looking at signing a new 10-year defence agreement, agreed to during Obama’s visit.

“We are looking to do more in terms of exercises and joint training, interoperability with our Indian counterparts and hopefully provide more in terms of increasing India’s indigenous capability to make defence products right here in India,” he said at the first US-India Think Tank Summit.

Verma said that during Obama’s visit, both countries have reoriented how they cooperate with each other.

He said it was not just about cooperation in South Asia but both countries now have a “very robust architecture” for East Asia as well.

He said the two countries will work together on maritime cooperation, keeping sea lanes open, combating weapons of mass destruction, supporting humanitarian assistance to disasters as well as increasing trade and economic integration across Asia.

“The strategic premise of that is that if US and India are the closest of partners, not just in South Asia, but across Asia and globally, the world would be a safer and more prosperous place. That is the power of having two large democracies coming together. There is so much good that can come out of it,” he said.

US Defence Secretary to visit in June to ink defence agreement | idrw.org

 

[sancho]

The new US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter will be visiting India in June and will sign the enhanced Defence Framework Agreement for the next ten years between the two countries. Also on the agenda will be the nearly USD 2.5-billion deal for 22 Apache and 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters besides taking forward the talks on proposed co-development and co-production of military technology, ranging from aircraft carrier launch systems to mini drones.

So we have to wait for another US official meeting to see if we finally fix those helicopter deals.

 

[wiseone2]

So we have to wait for another US official meeting to see if we finally fix those helicopter deals.

it will be interesting to see which r&d projects american companies participate in

 

[sancho]

it will be interesting to see which r&d projects american companies participate in

None, all they offer is co production, so basically outsourcing to reduce costs. Proper R&D or joint developments of important stuff is not on the table. We might have to wait til Hillary is in office to get more out of the Indo - US relation.

 

[SwAggeR]

None, all they offer is co production, so basically outsourcing to reduce costs. Proper R&D or joint developments of important stuff is not on the table. We might have to wait til Hillary is in office to get more out of the Indo - US relation.

I would prefer Republicans over Democrats any day.

 

[Abingdonboy]

None, all they offer is co production, so basically outsourcing to reduce costs. Proper R&D or joint developments of important stuff is not on the table. We might have to wait til Hillary is in office to get more out of the Indo - US relation.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Hilary might be a "fan" of India but she is no "fan" of Modi and she is driven by her emotions as such I don't see the Indo-US ties moving ahead under her leadership. Under Obama there should have been much more positive results in Indo-US relations given he is an admirer of India (especially Gandhi because of Martin Luther King's affinity with the fellow) and seemed to have genuine respect for Dr MMS. But he turned out to be an ineffective and inattentive leader who allowed the US's foreign policy to drift with no clear direction.


Another republican in office with the Congress behind him would be FAR more beneficial for India IMHO, think back to the Bush years the trajectory for relations was up and up, under Obama they plateaued. With an increasing (somewhat imagined) threat from China playing on the US's leadership (especially the Republicans) India is in a position to reap the rewards.

 

[sancho]

I would prefer Republicans over Democrats any day.

Haven't they created enough mess in the world? No thanks

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Hilary might be a "fan" of India but she is no "fan" of Modi and she is driven by her emotions as such I don't see the Indo-US ties moving ahead under her leadership.

She don't have to be a Modi fan because he is unimportant, all that counts for her or any US president, is the interest of the US. It was in the interest of the US to push us as an official nuclear power under Bush, it was in the interest of the US to get closer political and defence relations under Obama and it surely will go the same way under her, if not even further ahead, because she doesn't carry the bagage of Obama withing the US (even in his own party). With Indias growing importance as a counterweight against China in Asia and the economical importance as the only country in the world that keeps pushing ahead, there is no doubt that the US interest still remains high on India, but now we might finally be able to get things to the next level.
We went from basic procurements with limited offsets, to co-production at least, maybe she get the US government open for proper licence productions too, to get India things with value.

 

[SwAggeR]

Haven't they created enough mess in the world? No thanks

Did you mean Libya or Syria or Arab spring in other parts or Ukraine ??

And yes Obama himself once admitted that they don't have any plans against ISIS and yes ISIS became all powerful during Obama's regime only.Even Boko haram has became so marauding strong under their nose.This Obama has no grip of world affairs. At one point of time even French president had to ask Obama to end his holidays and focus more on world affairs. How peaceful world is that for you ??

Anyway , I would love to see Pakistan getting more messy.

Phuk rest of the world , I see incumbent government of India in better sync with Republicans.

 

[Suman]

I hope EMALS goes through and deal of selling hundred attack helicopters and joint development of latest UAV would be enough.

 

[Abingdonboy]

She don't have to be a Modi fan because he is unimportant, all that counts for her or any US president, is the interest of the US. It was in the interest of the US to push us as an official nuclear power under Bush, it was in the interest of the US to get closer political and defence relations under Obama and it surely will go the same way under her, if not even further ahead, because she doesn't carry the bagage of Obama withing the US (even in his own party). With Indias growing importance as a counterweight against China in Asia and the economical importance as the only country in the world that keeps pushing ahead, there is no doubt that the US interest still remains high on India, but now we might finally be able to get things to the next level.
We went from basic procurements with limited offsets, to co-production at least, maybe she get the US government open for proper licence productions too, to get India things with value.

I wouldn't be as optimistic for Indo-US ties under Hilary as under a Republican. Under Obama, apart from the very early years (Dr MMS being Obama's very first official guest) he allowed the relationship to drift ( the Indian side must also be blamed for this) and only very recently did things get back on track (pretty much late last year) and that is largely because of the new impetus Modi has created in forging closer ties with all. I don't think anything would have changed had Modi not come in to office and provided a breath of fresh air. Let's not forget that the last few years/months of the UPA's reign had seen a pretty dramatic cooling of relations between India and the US.

Individual leaders and their personalities to have quite a large impact on the respective foreign policies of their nations- the US-Indian cilvil nuclear deal would not have been signed had it not been for Dr MMS pushing for it hard on the Indian side and Bush being very receptive to it on the US side.


I'm just not sure Hilary would be so inclined to be so forthcoming, but a Republican certainly would.

Haven't they created enough mess in the world? No thanks

A bit irrelevant as far as India's interests are concerned.

We went from basic procurements with limited offsets, to co-production at least, maybe she get the US government open for proper licence productions too, to get India things with value.

FAR more likely under a Republican president after all they (Republicans) are effectively representing US industry and especially the arms manufacturers.

 

[Matrixx]

good................

 

[sancho]

only very recently did things get back on track (pretty much late last year) and that is largely because of the new impetus Modi has created in forging closer ties with all.

Oh please mate, there is not a single political deal that came out of Modis visit to the US, it was a great show for the public, but completely lacked the substance in the political space and isn't it's even a fact that he only re-newed the defence agreements, that were created under the UPA term? Don't fall for the hype around these visits, but look at the actual outcomes of them (even the recent visit of Obama in India and watering down the nuclear liability clause).
Btw, who is blocking Obama mainly democrats or republicans? Who was in power when they denied us any useful techs and JVs for LCA/NLCA? So republicans in power in the US doesn't automatically mean, it's good for India, UNLESS, it serves US interests!
The change of Indo-US relationships is based on the changing US interests, we are still more alligned to Russia, which the US don't like, but are an open market and important for their economy, just as we a strong enough today to be a strategic partner in the region. That and not US and Indian politicians liking eachother was the game changer. If that didn't happend, the US would still support only Pakistan, since Pakistan remains important in the US interest too.
So on top of that change of interests, Hillary's or the Clintons fourable opinion of India and their different stand within the US itself, can bring bigger outcomes, than it was possible under Obama and Bush.The permanent UNC seat for example was supported by Bush and Obama, but never to the extend of finally getting us there, Hillary might.

A bit irrelevant as far as India's interests are concerned.

WHAAT??? Imagine if where India would stand today economically, if the US didn't created the financial crisis in 2008! Our GDP rate was at 9 to 10% and strongly pushing higher. Global investments into India at the peak, foreign companies lining up to come to India and start JVs and own facilities...
With all the other major countries not being in the financial mess as they are today, we would have seen much bigger growth, more jobs and more defence spending (since we are on a defence forum) in India! But thanks to the unregulated greed of US bankers, the de-regulation and privatisation policy of the republicans, the world and the US itself was close to bankruptcy.
So Indias interests were badly effected by US policies and even if you take the current situation with ISIS (created in the vacuum the US left in Iraq), the Ukraine crisis (because the US pushed to get them into NATO), which both are problems that's effecting Indian citizens, Indian defence relations as well as Indias growth.

 

[Bang Galore]

WHAAT??? Imagine if where India would stand today economically, if the US didn't created the financial crisis in 2008! Our GDP rate was at 9 to 10% and strongly pushing higher. Global investments into India at the peak, foreign companies lining up to come to India and start JVs and own facilities...
With all the other major countries not being in the financial mess as they are today, we would have seen much bigger growth, more jobs and more defence spending (since we are on a defence forum) in India! But thanks to the unregulated greed of US bankers, the de-regulation and privatisation policy of the republicans, the world and the US itself was close to bankruptcy.
So Indias interests were badly effected by US policies and even if you take the current situation with ISIS (created in the vacuum the US left in Iraq), the Ukraine crisis (because the US pushed to get them into NATO), which both are problems that's effecting Indian citizens, Indian defence relations as well as Indias growth.

.....and as usual, absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the UPA was throwing money out of the window on "social" projects....? Like the U.S. came & told the Indian government to stop the road building that was going on under the previous NDA government...? Something about it being an "elitist" project for automobile owners....? Sanjaya Baru's book is a good read to see what problems existed.

 

[sancho]

Did you mean Libya or Syria or Arab spring in other parts or Ukraine ??

I meant Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, global financial crisis, increasing terror all over the world..., see my reply to Abingdonboy.

A stable India can grow
India in a stable neighborhood can grow
India in a stable world can grow

So th more stability, the better for India!

.....and as usual, absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the UPA was throwing money out of the window on "social" projects....?

What has Indian spending to do with the global financial crisis and what had more effect on Indian GDP rate?
In fact, it was Indian government rejecting US pressure to privatise the Indian financial sector, that kept us safe and with far less effects than most of the western world for example. It's about Indo-US relations and the outcomes of US policies, so please don't divert to Indian party politics.

 

[Bang Galore]

What has Indian spending to do with the global financial crisis and what had more effect on Indian GDP rate?
In fact, it was Indian government rejecting US pressure to privatise the Indian financial sector, that kept us safe and with far less effects than most of the western world for example. It's about Indo-US relations and the outcomes of US policies, so please don't divert to Indian party politics.

Nothing to do with party politics but the UPA government's financial recklessness was as big a reason as the global crisis & it certainly is the reason why we still are struggling.