US Wants to be the Partner of Choice for India Says US Defence Official

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 04 November 2022, 01:15 IST
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US Wants to be the Partner of Choice for India Says US Defence Official

The US Defense Attaché says the US is the best partner in sharing high-end technology and next-generation equipment and asserts that the US wants to be India's partner of choice

A senior US defense official affirmed that the US wants to be the partner of choice for India while stating that India is the best partner in sharing high-end technology and next-generation equipment in the backdrop of India diversifying its military arsenal from heavy dependence on Russia. He mentioned that the US and India work closely to exchange views and observe regional security issues keenly.

Rear Admiral (RADM) Michael L Baker, the US Defense Attaché in India, reiterated that India has the ability to choose its partners and has made a conscious decision to diversify over the last decade. It has decided to continue to diversify going forward and has initiated a conscious decision to partner with the US in a host of areas. He also added that there are some challenges in sharing high-end technology and next-generation equipment, and the US and India are the best partners.

With regards to the recent submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test by INS Arihant, India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Rear Admiral noted that a country is able to go through and test its lawful and sovereign capabilities in a responsible way, and India has responsibly carried out that.

There has been discussion about India and the US doing joint patrols in the past, which was disagreed with by the Defense Ministry at that point. India has since carried out joint patrols with France. To a question about whether the time has come for joint patrols between India and the US, RADM Baker highlighted that, to some degree, they are conducting joint patrols, referring to broad naval cooperation.

On the overall India-US relationship, RADM Baker added that the US has a lot of trust between the countries and the militaries. The US also conducts more exercises with India than any other country. The countries also operate at sea together, and these kinds of interactions build trust and familiarity every day, resulting in a strong and trusting relationship.