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How US deals with ‘natural partner’ India could boost defence, tech cooperation amid China tensions
- The deals could mark a departure from New Delhi’s years of dependency on Russian arms and show how far US-India ties have come, analysts say
- They say US investments could spur others to view India as a viable alternative to China, complementing Delhi’s push to boost jobs creation
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India’s defence capabilities are set for a boost following a series of deals signed with the United States, in what experts say is also an indication of Washington’s desire to draw New Delhi closer to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
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The agreements, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington last week, spanned everything from clean energy to medicines. Two on defence and technology stand out as they are likely to mark a departure from Delhi’s years of dependency on Russia for arms.
“I think the linchpin of the agreements is the defence framework to make India strong and augment its deterrent capabilities,” said Ashok Mehta, a retired lieutenant general in the Indian army and an independent defence analyst.
“Americans have been constantly suggesting that India wean itself of dependence on Russia for military equipment and therefore the current agreements are indicative of that.”
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Biden, Modi hail new era of US-India ties and tout deals
Biden, Modi hail new era of US-India ties and tout deals
In particular, a deal between US firm GE and India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to co-produce GE-F414 jet engines is a high point as it envisages technology transfers in equipment currently available only to Russia, Britain and France.
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The engine deal is expected to equip India’s home-grown Tejas light -combat aircraft, which are meant to replace many the of Russian-made planes that for decades have formed the bulk of the Indian Air Force.
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