America
US House approves measure to expand US-India defence cooperation
By
Arun KumarWashington, May 15
Reflecting the solid
bipartisan support for building US-India relationship, the US House of
Representatives Friday passed a key measure calling for expansion of
US-India defence cooperation.
In addition to urging an overall
expansion in defence ties, an amendment to the FY2016 National Defence
Authorisation Act (NDAA) specifically calls for the US to welcome the
role India plays in providing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific
region and beyond.
The amendment was offered by Ed Royce,
Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, its top
Democratic member Eliot Engel, Democrat Ami Bera and George Holding,
co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and
Democrat Joe Crowley, vice chair of the Democratic Caucus.
The
measure also wants the US to work cooperatively with India on matters
relating to common defence, vigorously support the implementation of the
US-India Defence Framework Agreement, as well as support the India
Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
This was the
first vote held by the House on US-India relations since the 2014 Indian
elections, and comes on the heels of the defence framework advanced by
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January.
"As
the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy, the
United States and India are natural allies," said Bera, the lone
Indian-American member of US Congress.
"Continued cooperation in
defence benefits both our countries as we draw down in Afghanistan and
deal with terrorism around the world."
"This amendment demonstrates our strong support for growing the defence partnership between the US and India," he added
"One
of the most important decisions the US has made in recent years is to
strengthen our relationship with India, including cooperation and
coordination on defence matters," said Crowley, former co-chair of the
House India Caucus.
"The US-India partnership will define the
South Asia region and beyond for years to come. Front and centre in this
critical partnership is our increasing defence cooperation," said
Royce, former co-chair of the House India Caucus.
"With the
emerging challenges the United States and India both face in the
Indo-Pacific region and across the globe, it is essential we strengthen
the defence partnership and cooperation between our two nations," said
Holding.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])