America
India-US ink defence framework pact, Carter meets Modi, Sushma
New Delhi, June 3
India and the US on
Wednesday signed a new framework agreement for closer cooperation in
defence as visiting US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter met Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and
conveyed India was an important strategic partner.
The agreement was signed by India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Carter.
Carter earlier met Modi, Sushma Swaraj and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
During
his meeting with the prime minister, Modi expressed hope that the US
companies, including those in the defence manufacturing sector, would
actively participate in the 'Make in India' initiative and set up
manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology and link to the
global supply chain.
Carter conveyed that India was an important
strategic partner for the US and the US policy of rebalance in
Asia-Pacific complimented India's 'Act East' Policy.
Carter and
Modi also exchanged views on regional issues, including the situation in
Afghanistan, and the recent developments in the Indian Ocean and the
Asia Pacific region.
The defence framework agreement meanwhile
focuses on taking "appropriate measures to enhance India's defence
capability". Among other things, India and the US agreed to cooperate on
jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, and other areas.
The
two sides also agreed to pursue co-development and co-production
projects that will offer "tangible opportunities" for American defence
industries to build defence partnership with Indian industries including
in manufacturing under 'Make in India'.
The 10-year defence
framework agreement was renewed during the visit of US President Barack
Obama in January. The first framework agreement, which expires this
year, was signed in the US in 2005 by the then defence minister Pranab
Mukherjee and his then US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld.
Speaking after signing the agreement, Parrikar said "further synergies will result in better output".
An
official statement said that in their meeting, Parrikar and Carter
discussed the bilateral defence relationship, and the broader India-US
Strategic Partnership.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment
to expand and deepen the bilateral defence relationship and also
reviewed the existing and emerging regional security dynamics.
The
2015 Framework for the India-US Defence Relationship builds upon the
previous framework and successes to guide the bilateral defence and
strategic partnership for the next 10 years. It provides avenues for
high-level strategic discussions, continued exchanges between the armed
forces of both countries, and strengthening of defence capabilities.
The framework also recognises the transformative nature of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
Both
India and the US have finalised two project agreements for joint
development of mobile electric hybrid power sources and the next
generation protective ensembles.
Engaging bilateral cooperation
in areas of mutual interest, such as maritime security and knowledge
partnership in the field of defence was also agreed upon.
Carter
also thanked Parrikar for the help extended in the search for a US
helicopter which went missing during the relief operations in quake-hit
Nepal. He also invited Parrikar to visit the US for the next meeting
which Parrikar accepted.
Earlier, Carter, who was on his first
visit to India as defence secretary, laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan
Jyoti memorial at India Gate, the World War I monument.
Carter,
who arrived in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, has visited the Eastern Naval
Command and the indigenous stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri.