In August 2023, the US and India signed two pivotal defence agreements aimed at fortifying their strategic partnership. These agreements, the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and the Memorandum of Agreement on the Assignment of Liaison Officers, are set to enhance defence cooperation between the two nations by focusing on priority supply chains and integrating liaison officers.
The SOSA is designed to ensure that both the US and India have priority access to essential defence products and services during critical times. This agreement safeguards the industrial resources needed to support defence operations, particularly during supply chain disruptions.
This agreement facilitates the exchange of liaison officers between the two countries for better coordination. Indian officers will have postings at US commands, like the US Indo-Pacific Command, while American officers will be assigned to Indian military institutions, fostering enhanced communication and cooperation in joint military operations.
The recent agreements build upon the existing strategic partnership, emphasizing joint defence production, technology sharing, and operational coordination. They are aligned with the 2023 US-India Defence Roadmap, which prioritizes co-production projects involving advanced technologies such as jet engines and unmanned platforms.
Over the past decade, significant agreements have been signed to enhance cooperation:
These foundational agreements are crucial for improving interoperability between US and Indian forces, enhancing logistics coordination, and ensuring secure communications during joint military operations. They also pave the way for high-end technology transfers and closer defence cooperation.
The SOSA and Liaison Officer agreements support India's goals of strengthening its defence industrial base, enhancing supply chain resilience, and improving coordination in joint operations. These agreements are integral to the broader vision of the 2023 US-India Defence Roadmap, which seeks deeper defence ties including technology co-development and co-production.
Technology plays a pivotal role in these agreements, particularly in the development of critical technologies related to jet engines, unmanned systems, and secure communication platforms. The objective is to bolster indigenous production capabilities and facilitate technology sharing.
With these new agreements, US-India defence ties are poised to deepen further, with a focus on co-production, technology transfer, and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. This continued collaboration is expected to enhance India's self-reliance in defence production while strengthening regional security.
The growing defence ties between India and the US are instrumental in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. These agreements underscore the importance of resilient supply chains, secure communication networks, and joint operational capabilities in today's complex global security environment. As a result, stronger ties lead to stronger defence and a safer world.
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