Emmanuel Ukudolo
Pentagon, Aug. 30, 2016 – The United States of America and India today signed a bilateral logistics exchange memorandum of agreement. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter signed in behalf of the US government while Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar signed for India.
Providing details of the deal at a joint press conference in the Pentagon, Carter said both countries agreed to advance a number of collaborative projects, on jet technology and jet engine technology, chemical and biological protection, aircraft carriers and other systems; all by the end of the year.
“What does that mean specifically in terms of right across the board of what we do, whether they are co-production, co-development projects, whether they are exercises and the kinds of things that we do operationally together? In all of those respects, some of the barriers that were erected in the past – where we so to speak, didn’t interact very much – all those being knocked down.
“That gets to the second part which is terrorism, which is one of the many missions on which we cooperate and just to second what Minister Parrikar has said – I mean, the United States is quite clear in this regard and everywhere around the world, we oppose terrorism affecting anyone and us. That’s certainly true with respect to terrorist acts perpetrated against the Indian people, and also I should mention the Indian military, which has happened as well. And this gives new scope for that, as well”, he said.
Earlier, Parrikar said both countries looked at how the agreement could provide further energy and momentum to existing partnership on defense technology and manufacturing.
“We agreed to continue efforts to establish a fast and efficient framework to encourage tie-ups between our defense companies”, stressing that the United States is today one of India’s primary source of defense equipment.
“The U.S. has shared some of its cutting-edge platforms with India. We would like to take this forward to greater collaborative projects, spending even higher level of technologies and through corporation in manufacturing ventures.
“The DTTI, of which Secretary Carter is both founder and architect, met last month in Delhi. We decided to significantly expand the scope of its activities and the community of exchange in DTTI. I am confident that we will be able to develop more capable methods of engagement, covering newer areas even as we take forward ongoing collaborations in DTTI”, he said.
He explained that India and the United States have a shared interest in freedom of navigation and over flight and unimpeded commerce as part of rule-based order in Indo-Pacific.
“Our officials met in May 2016 for the inaugural Maritime Security Dialogue. We have tasked them to meet more regularly as we implement the joint strategic vision. The signing of the white shipping agreement and the information exchange arrangement on aircraft carriers recently underlines our desire to work closely together in the maritime domain. Today, we decided to further enhance our engagement on maritime domain. We also resolved to continue our cooperation on counter-terrorism”, he said.
While explaining that India and United States are fellow democracies, he noted that open and diverse societies are committed to peace.
“However, as the United States has shown, there can be no compromise when we are faced with terrorism. The forces that seek to undermine our progress and our ways of life require our comprehensive and robust response. We appreciate the support from United States in our efforts to eliminate terrorism in India’s neighborhood”, he said.
