Unwavering US commitment for key defence ally India

Unmistakable signs that defence cooperation between the two countries is being upgraded notwithstanding traditional US disquiet over New Delhi’s broad array of military hardware acquisition from other nations came in a statement in which Biden pledged “unwavering commitment to India as a major defence partnerâ€, including strengthening cooperation in advanced military technologies.
The statement specifically noted the recent project to co-develop air-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, and encouraged more such joint efforts. It called upon government and private stakeholders to use the existing ecosystems of innovation and entrepreneurship in defence industries for co-development, co-production and expanding mutual defence trade, a mechanism that would not only enable India to circumvent outright purchase, but also get around US legislative hurdles that are subject to domestic politics.
Officials said that Biden said it would need two days of talks with Modi, rather than the 90 minutes they took, to cover the full gamut of shared interests. Following up on the talks and his invitation to vice-president Kamala Harris to visit India, Modi also extended an invitation to the US President to visit India. Subject to the pandemic waning, both visits are expected to take place within months.
Not that the talks were without wrinkles, mostly relating to trade. Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla said Modi raised the issue of H-1b visas and the continuing impasse over a totalisation agreement, resolving which would enable India to recover billions of dollars that Indian professionals are forced to contribute and give up in taxes even when they don’t intent to immigrate.
Meanwhile, Biden reiterated US support for India’s permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and its entry into NSG, PTI reported. He also applauded India’s “strong leadership†during its UNSC Presidency in August 2021, as per the US-India joint leaders’ statement.
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