WASHINGTON: U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday announced the start of two small defense trade deals with the Indian government that U.S. officials cast as part of a much broader effort by both countries to deepen military ties.
Mr. Carter said Washington and New Delhi would jointly develop a solar generator and a new, protective chemical-bio suit, projects that would get under way this summer. The dollar value of the agreements—about $2 million—was less significant than what they represented, he said.
We have big ambitions,” Mr. Carter told reporters at a hotel here. “Some of the projects that we’re launching just now are in part intended to blaze a trail for things to come.”
The U.S. and Indian governments will jointly research and develop both a “next-generation” generator, aimed at addressing energy issues in the field, and a lighter, more “breathable” protective suit for troops working in biohazard environments.
Although the U.S. works closely with several dozen countries to jointly develop defense technologies, U.S. officials said the initiative with India was significant because of the “broader, strategic effort” with New Delhi that underpins it.
U.S. officials say the two governments are also working on a new, mini drone and a series of other joint development projects. There are hopes over time to work together on the development of jet engines and even aircraft carriers, Mr. Carter said.
Mr. Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar signed an agreement known as the 2015 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship. The pact, which will focus on maritime security and other initiatives, extends for another decade cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries.
Maritime security was the key theme to Mr. Carter’s foreign trip, an 11-day swing through Southeast Asia and beyond, in which the focus has been on security in the South China Sea. China has continued to expand a series of artificial islands there and Mr. Carter has called on Beijing and other claimants to the chain of islands to stop construction there.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter inspects an honor guard during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi on Wednesday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter inspects an honor guard during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The U.S. and other governments in the region fear their buildup could lead to military expansionism, particularly by China. The agreement in India reflects Washington’s interest in closer defense relationships with Asian countries, particularly in the maritime domain.
India has long viewed its defense relationship with the U.S. as transactional, assuming the U.S. wanted something specifically in return for whatever initiative the Pentagon proposed, U.S. officials said. But those officials said the deals they were announcing formally Wednesday were a sign that both countries had moved past that kind of thinking and recognized the strategic value in strengthening the military-to-military relationship.
U.S. officials said cultural barriers remained within the Indian government, which has long looked to Russia for arms supplies. But the deals seemed to reflect the new energy to deepen ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
American officials pointed to the speed at which both governments agreed to the research projects, which happened over the course of months, not years. “We went from flash to bang in about five months,” one official said.
