{"id":57445,"date":"2017-12-15T17:57:26","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T17:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/15\/a-road-map-and-recipe-for-us-india-defense-ties\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:18:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:18:53","slug":"a-road-map-and-recipe-for-us-india-defense-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2017\/12\/15\/a-road-map-and-recipe-for-us-india-defense-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"A road map and recipe for US-India defense ties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S.-India partnership has seen substantial growth since the early 1990s, and defense cooperation with India has emerged as the defining pillar of this important relationship. The focus on defense cooperation can be attributed to two major concerns that give both nations common cause: stability in the Indo-Pacific and international counterterror efforts. To achieve both, India needs to modernize its military and ensure some level of interoperability with its partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The past few years witnessed the leadership of both nations tackling major policy and procedural impediments to bilateral progress, formally beginning the realization of this partnership\u2019s full potential. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s leadership, the government of India has tackled offset policies, foreign direct investment and procurement procedures, harnessing the private sector\u2019s role in providing military capability as reflected in the 2016 Defence Procurement Production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the U.S. government has revised its technology and transfer policies to place the government of India on par with some of our closest allies and even legally recognized India<\/a> as a major defense partner<\/a>. Despite these significant steps forward, the challenge of best demonstrating the impact of these historic decisions remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. operates internationally within a longstanding policy and legal framework where select agreements enable and advance cooperative defense relationships. This approach is highly structured, withstanding the test of time. Part of this structure includes agreements that enable technology cooperation and interoperability. In our relationship with India, the U.S. continues to insist that India embrace this established paradigm and install \u201cenabling agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, India resists this paradigm while simultaneously seeking a creative solution beyond the established norm. As a friend, and not an official ally, India is very sensitive to some of the standard language the U.S. is accustomed to. For example, references to \u201coperations\u201d and \u201cbases\u201d are not acceptable to New Delhi because, if taken out of context, such terminology could imply a relationship of an alliance rather than a mutually beneficial partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\t