September 6, 2018

US Secretary Defence James Mattis said, "We will continue to work to enhance India's role as a primary major defence partner to elevate our relationship to a level of our closest ally."

On Thursday, after months of hectic negotiations, India & the United States of America signed the Communications Compatibility & Security Agreement (COMCASA). Agreement enables India access advanced US defence systems.

The pact was signed following the inaugural 2+2 Dialogue between US Secretary Defence James N. Mattis, US Secretary State Michael R. Pompeo, India's Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj & Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"Defence cooperation has emerged as the most significant dimension of our strategic partnership & as a key driver of our overall bilateral relationship," Defence Minister Sitharaman said after the talks.

Terming COMCASA as a landmark agreement, US Secretary Defence James Mattis said, "We'll continue to work to enhance India's role as a primary major defence partner to elevate our relationship to a level of our closest ally. Today we took a significant step by signing the COMCASA. The landmark agreement will increase our ability to share advanced defence technology making us both stronger. Today, the steps we took will pave way for closer military relationship."

COMCASA is 1 of 3 major foundational agreements in the defence sector. India has already signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 while talks are still on for the 3rd pact - Basic Exchange & Cooperation for Geo Spatial Cooperation. COMCASA allows US to install high-end communication technology delivered by it in the military systems in India.

"We had many productive, forward thinking conversations on our bilateral relationship. Today our 2 countries entered into an ambitious plan to elevate our security cooperation across a no. of areas. The COMCASA is a major step forward in our defence collaboration & coordination. It'll allow us to better protect freedom in the Indo-Pacific... We agreed to scale up the scope of our military cooperation," Pompeo said.

During the meeting, India conveyed to the US that it expects a non-discriminatory & predictable visa regime from the Trump govt. "I sought Secretary Pompeo's support to nurture our people-to-people links.

Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory & predictable approach to the H1B visa regime given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness & people-to-people partnership, all of which're a vital source of strength for our relationship," Union Misiter Swaraj said in a media statement after the talks.

The 2 countries have decided to establish hotlines to help their foreign & defence ministers remain in touch regularly. India & the US also agreed to work together to secure India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group at the earliest.

On the counter-terrorism cooperation, India & the US will increase information-sharing efforts on known or suspected terrorists & to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2396 on returning foreign terrorist fighters.

The 2 countries called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory isn't used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries &  bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri & other cross-border terrorist attacks.

Spokesperson of the US Secretary State, Heather Nauert said that Pompeo & Swaraj discussed efforts to promote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, expand the bilateral trade relationship, move forward on civil-nuclear cooperation, & deepen people-to-people ties.

Terming the meeting as "most productive, positive & purposeful", Sitharaman said the 2 sides have also agreed closer defence industry cooperation & collaboration.

The US had in 2016 designated India as its Major Defence Partner (MDP). Last month, the US gave India the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) to allow sale of high-technology products in the field of defence & space.

India & the US will soon begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defence industry cooperation & collaboration. India has invited the US companies to be part of the Make in India. The US has agreed to nominate a Point of Contact in its Department of Defence to help address procedural complexities & facilitate Indian companies to join the manufacturing supply chains of US defence companies.

In an effort to intensify their military-to-military ties, the 2 sides agreed to create a new tri-services exercise &  further increase personnel exchanges between the 2 militaries & defence organisations & expand cooperation in the area of maritime security.

"We'll also enhance our interactions with the United States military's Central Command," Sitharaman said.

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