India-USA relations

India-USA relations

News: Here, we will discuss about the outcomes of PM Modi’s visit to the US. Please read this in continuation with other articles covered on the topic.

What were the important highlights of the visit?

Defence Cooperation
• Strategic Defence partnership; India – US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X)
• MoU between GE and HAL for manufacturing GE-F414 jet engines in India (with 80% technology transfer) to be used in Tejas Mk2
• Purchase of 16 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs.
• Defence acceleration ecosystems, ship repair agreements and Placement of Indian liaison officers at US commands

Space cooperation
• India signing the Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration.
• NASA provides advanced training to Indian astronauts.
• Strategic Framework for human spaceflight cooperation by 2023 end
• NASA and ISRO have agreed to launch a joint mission to International Space Station in 2024.

Cooperation in clean energy
• US-India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform to accelerate cooperation in green hydrogen and other emerging technologies.
• U.S. Agency for International Development is to support Indian Railways’ to become a “net-zero” carbon emitter by 2030.
• India joins Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to advance critical energy minerals supply chains globally, adhering to environmental and social standards.

High-technology Partnership
• Semiconductor supply chain agreement and Introduced Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to facilitate better collaboration among academia and industries.

Trade and Consular access
• Resolution of WTO disputes and market access and Establishment of new consulates in India (Bengaluru and Ahmedabad) and the US (India’s consulate in Seattle). Most importantly relaxation in H1B visa norms.

How do we see India-US relations now?
• India-US relations have steadily strengthened over the years, marked by strategic cooperation, technological partnerships, and defence collaborations.
• Notwithstanding challenges, the overall trajectory of India-US relations is positive, emphasizing the importance of the bilateral partnership in areas such as defence, trade, technology, and space exploration.
Source – Indian Express