The United States and India have reached a significant milestone in their defense partnership, marking a transformative moment in their relationship, according to a senior Defense Department official at the Pentagon today.
Highlighting the collaboration between the world’s largest democracies, the official stated, “The synergy between our innovative workers and companies working closely together on strategic technologies for security represents a natural progression in this partnership.”
In a remarkable shift from two decades ago, when U.S. defense sales to India were nonexistent, the official emphasized that the two nations are now engaging in joint production and development of major defense systems.
Furthermore, India has joined the United States in annual air and maritime exercises in the region, signaling a deepening cooperation in defense affairs.
“We have established working groups encompassing critical areas such as cyberspace, critical technologies, and maritime security, with India leading alongside the U.S. and like-minded partners,” the official explained.
The domains of critical technologies include artificial intelligence, advanced sensor development, unmanned systems, quantum physics, and undersea domain awareness.
The official highlighted India’s strategic significance, stating that India will be a vital partner for the United States in the years to come. India’s increased commitment to an active international role, including its participation in the Indo-Pacific Quad, reflects a growing willingness to collaborate with the United States in safeguarding and advancing a shared vision of a free, open, and rules-based global order.
Shifting the spotlight to the Indo-Pacific, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, is serving as a strategic security forum for these nations.
Tomorrow, the launch of the INDUS X initiative will further cement the U.S.-India partnership. The initiative aims to bring together stakeholders, research institutions, industries, startups, and investors from both countries to accelerate and scale up commercial technologies with military applications. It also seeks to establish standardized certification and testing procedures while facilitating startups’ entry into the defense sector and securing the necessary capital.
Hosted in Washington, INDUS X will take place just prior to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, organizing the event, envisions INDUS X as a catalyst for India to achieve its goal of $5 billion in defense exports by 2025 and diversify its defense supply chain. The conference will feature a defense exhibition, showcasing technologies and platforms that can enhance border security, maritime domain awareness, space situational awareness, and more, ultimately contributing to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.
This collaborative approach between the United States and India marks a significant step forward in their defense cooperation, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations.