Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Context: India and the U.S. signed a 10-year defence partnership framework to deepen strategic cooperation across domains, ensuring a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
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- The Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership was signed by Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth during the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur.
- It builds on the 2013 Joint Principles and 2016 Major Defence Partner (MDP) recognition, outlining a decade-long roadmap for defence cooperation.
- The framework spans land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace, focusing on maritime security, interoperability, and technology innovation.
- The COMPACT initiative (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) was highlighted as a key driver to accelerate defence commerce and technology collaboration between the two nations.
Key Defence Agreements between India and the U.S.
- Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA)
- SOSA is a bilateral agreement ensuring supply chain resilience during emergencies.
- India became the 18th SOSA partner of the United States.
- Other partners include Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, Israel, Republic of Korea, Sweden, etc.
- Enables mutual prioritisation of goods and services for national defence needs.
- Allows expedited deliveries between U.S. and Indian defence contractors.
- Though non-binding, it operates on mutual goodwill.
- The U.S. offers assurances under its Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) managed by the Department of Defence (DoD) and Department of Commerce (DoC).
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Liaison Officers
- Aims to enhance information sharing and operational coordination between both nations.
- India will deploy a Liaison Officer to the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in Florida.
- Builds upon previous pacts:
- 2013 Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation
- 2015 Framework for U.S.-India Defence Relations
- Reflects commitment to strengthening bilateral defence ties.
- Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) Agreement
- Under negotiation; not yet finalised.
- Aims to standardise, rationalise, and enhance interoperability of defence equipment.
- The U.S. currently has RDP agreements with 28 nations.
- Would allow U.S. firms to bypass some procurement barriers like Make in India restrictions.
- Encourages manufacturing bases in India and collaboration with Indian defence industries.
- SOSA vs. RDP
- SOSA: Ensures supply chain continuity during crises; based on mutual trust, not legally binding.
- RDP: A legally binding framework; focuses on defence order prioritisation, joint production, and technology collaboration.
Key Developments in India–U.S. Defence Cooperation
- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) (2002): enabled the sharing of classified military information.
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) (2016): facilitated reciprocal logistics and base access.
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) (2018): ensured secure communication and advanced tech access.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) (2020): allowed sharing of geospatial intelligence for strategic and military operations.
- 2+2 Dialogue: Institutionalised ministerial-level discussions enhancing defence interoperability and trust.
Defence Trade and Strategic Initiatives
- Major Defence Partner (2016): Recognition of India as a key U.S. partner in defence collaboration.
- Strategic Trade Authorisation (STA) Tier-1 Status (2018): Granted access to advanced U.S. defence technologies.
- Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) (2012): promoted co-production and co-development of defence systems.
Defence Innovation and New Mechanisms
- INDUS-X (India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem) was launched in June 2023 to foster innovation and industrial collaboration.
- 2023 Defence Roadmap: Focused on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Undersea Domain Awareness, and Air Combat Systems.
- I2U2 Grouping
- Members: India, Israel, U.S., and UAE.
- Aims for joint investments and initiatives in water, energy, transport, space, health, and food security sectors.