Washington: The US House of Representatives on Thursday approved amendments to a defence bill that is set to elevate its defence ties with India. The bipartisan legislative move seeks to bring India at par with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) allies for sale of defence equipment and technology transfer.
The amendment on ‘Enhancing Defence and Security Cooperation with India’ was approved weeks before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the US on 8 June. Narendra Modi will become the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. The last one was in 2005 by Manmohan Singh.
The amendment (Enhancing Defence and Security Co-operation with India) was sponsored by Congressman George Holding and Ami Bera (House India Caucus Chairs) and Chair and Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce and Elliot Engel, respectively.
"It seeks to promote greater defence trade and encourage additional military cooperation between the United States and India," Holding said on the floor of the House of Representatives in favour of the amendment in this regard in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017.
"I believe that by requiring our government to take actions such as strengthening Defence Technology and Trade Initiative and encouraging combined military planning with India, we can make certain that the US-India defence relationship endures," Holding added.
"Chairman, given the dynamic nature of the Indo- Pacific region and its importance to our own national security and future economic growth, now is the time to build on recent successes and propel the US-India strategic partnership forward," Holding further said.
For the US, it encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of defence technology, maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
It urges the US government to enhance India's military capabilities in the context of combined military planning, and promote co-production/co-development opportunities.
For India, it encourages the government to authorise combined military planning with the US for missions of mutual interest such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.
Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, the Senate India Caucus Chairs, introduced a similar bill earlier this week in the Senate.
Senator Marco Rubio, the former Republican presidential candidate, became its co-sponsor this week.
It is only when it is passed by the Senate and the House as part of the NDAA-2017, it will head to the White House for US President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
With PTI Inputs
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