INDIA AND U.S. STRENGTHEN DEFENSE TIES WITH NEW AGREEMENTS AND COLLABORATION

Why in the news?

India and the U.S. Have signed two new defence agreements, improving army cooperation and advancing co-production and generation-sharing initiatives.

source:medium

About the new Agreement:

  • India and the U.S. Signed two new defence agreements: the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) concerning Liaison Officers.
  • SOSA makes a speciality of reciprocal assist for defence items and offerings, while the MoA permits Indian officers to be stationed in U.S. Strategic commands.
  • These agreements keep a series of bilateral pacts aimed toward deepening defence cooperation, which commenced with the 2002 General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).

Strategic Initiatives:

  • The agreements are part of a broader roadmap for defence commercial cooperation established in
  • Priority regions include intelligence-sharing, surveillance, reconnaissance, and co-manufacturing of defence system like jet engines and unmanned aerial motors.
  • The INDUS-X initiative, launched in June 2023, targets to construct a defence innovation bridge between the two international locations, fostering collaboration in crucial and rising technology.
About Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA):

  • Reciprocal Support: Mandates the U.S. And India to provide precedence aid for goods and offerings that promote countrywide defence.
  • Supply Chain Security: Enables both countries to accumulate vital business resources from one another to deal with unanticipated deliver chain disruptions.
  • India’s Position: India becomes the 18th SOSA partner, joining international locations like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
  • Liaison Officers: A memorandum of agreement become signed to enhance defence cooperation through the assignment of liaison officials.

Overview of India-U.S. Bilateral Relations:

  • Historical Context: Relations have improved publish-Cold War and nuclear disagreements, with recent cooperation in monetary and political areas.
  • Bilateral Trade: Increased by way of 72% from 2017-18 to 2022-23; U.S. Changed into the second-largest FDI source in 2021-22.
  • Defence and Security: Major agreements consist of LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), and BECA (2020); U.S. Distinctive India a first-rate defence accomplice in 2016.
  • Multilateral Cooperation: Joint efforts in UN, G20, ASEAN, IMF, World Bank, WTO: Quad alliance with Australia and Japan.
  • Nuclear Cooperation: Civil Nuclear Deal (2005) involves India’s civil-army nuclear separation and U.S. Dedication to civil nuclear cooperation.