India-US Geopolitical Ties Strengthened as Prime Minister Modi Embarks on State Visit to America
The close geopolitical relationship between India and the United States is set to take center stage as Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his inaugural official state visit to America on June 21. Indian officials have previously stated that both nations are working on a comprehensive outcome document that will set the tone for the future of their robust democracies.
During a press conference in the nation's capital on Monday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra announced that a roadmap for defense industrial cooperation is expected to be a significant outcome of PM Modi's visit. He emphasized that all aspects of defense co-production and co-development would be discussed between Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden. One crucial component that will be prominently showcased is bilateral defense cooperation.
These remarks hold particular significance as both India and the US have deepened their defense cooperation in recent years, driven in part by tensions with China. PM Modi's highly anticipated visit to Washington is seen as an opportune moment for the two countries to forge key defense deals. The defense ministry approved the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US, valued at nearly $3 billion, under a government-to-government framework. An official announcement regarding this deal is expected to follow discussions between PM Modi and President Biden later this week.
The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the acquisition of weaponized MQ-9B Predator drones from General Atomics. The procurement of the Sea Guardian Predator drones, estimated at a cost of around $3 billion, aims to strengthen the surveillance capabilities of the Indian armed forces, particularly along the frontier with China.
The approval of this long-awaited procurement, which followed years of negotiations, came approximately 10 days after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held extensive talks with Minister Singh. These discussions focused on significantly expanding strategic and defense engagement between the two nations.
Sources indicate that the Navy is expected to receive 14 drones, while the Indian Air Force and the Army will each receive eight. The MQ-9B variant includes the Sky Guardian and the Sea Guardian models.
Furthermore, there are indications that an agreement on the manufacturing of the GE-414 fighter jet engine in India may be solidified during Prime Minister Modi's visit. India is considering this project to power its domestically developed combat aircraft, specifically the Tejas Mark-2 fighter jets. Under the proposed deal, US-based General Electric (GE) and Indian defense PSU Hindustan Aeronautics would jointly produce GE-F414 turbofan engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class within India.
The defense ties between India and the US have been steadily strengthening in recent years as the US seeks to reduce India's reliance on Russian weaponry. The US also views India as a significant regional counterweight to China, which has been assertively expanding its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Meanwhile, India has increased its defense cooperation with the US in response to recent clashes with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Together with Australia and Japan, India and the US are members of the Quad security group, which has advocated for a "free and fair Indo-Pacific region" as an implicit but powerful message to China.
China has frequently accused the US of using the Quad as a platform to counter its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
