{"id":46790,"date":"2018-09-06T11:01:32","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T11:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/06\/no-decision-on-s-400-as-us-india-sign-key-defense-agreement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:00:16","slug":"no-decision-on-s-400-as-us-india-sign-key-defense-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2018\/09\/06\/no-decision-on-s-400-as-us-india-sign-key-defense-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"No decision on S-400 as US, India sign key defense agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW DELHI \u2014 The U.S. and India<\/a> signed a critical defense<\/a> information sharing agreement Wednesday that will allow each country greater access to each others’ communications networks<\/a>, but could not come to an agreement on India\u2019s planned purchase of Russia\u2019s S-400 air defense system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis and Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, or COMCASA, which in practical terms will improve information network access and sharing so that in future weapons acquisition, secure communications links common in U.S. weapons systems, such as Link 16 in U.S. jets, can be included. Until now, those tactical communications capabilities have not been included in India\u2019s major weapons purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two sides also agreed to enhanced defense cooperation<\/a>, to include joint exercises on India\u2019s coast in 2019 and the establishment of a hotline between the U.S. and India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis and Sitharaman then joined Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and India\u2019s minister of foreign affairs Sushma Swaraj to address Indian and U.S. media. The defense and diplomatic leaders said the agreements were the latest sign of a strengthened U.S.-India relationship, recently underscored through the U.S. renaming Pacific Command to Indo-Pacific Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the two sides did not come to a resolution on one of the higher-visibility issues between the two sides, India\u2019s planned purchase of five S-400 systems, in a deal worth an estimated $6 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been no decision made,\u201d Pompeo told reporters Wednesday after the agreement was signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\t