President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to establish a task force to explore ways the two countries can move quickly to identify defense trade opportunities and projects and technologies on which to cooperate.
The two leaders agreed during their meeting Tuesday to adopt the task force recommendation made under the framework of the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative earlier this month. The initiative is designed as a way to foment better defense ties between the two countries in defense technology and cooperation.
“The two leaders reaffirmed that India and the United States would build an enduring partnership in which both sides treat each other at the same level as their closest partners, including defense technology transfers, trade, research, co-production, and co-development,” said a joint statement released by the White House.
According to the statement, Obama and Modi want the task force “to expeditiously evaluate and decide on unique projects and technologies which would have a transformative impact on bilateral defense relations and enhance India’s defense industry and military capabilities.”
The statement came more than two years after the Pentagon announced plans to increase cooperation in defense technology, in part by streamlining the export process by making it more simple, responsive and effective.
The issue has been on the agenda of several senior U.S. officials visiting India, including Vice President Joe Biden, and more recently, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
India has continued to buy from U.S. defense suppliers, is acquiring the Boeing [BA]-built P-8 Poseidon aircraft being produced in much larger numbers for the U.S. Navy, and has hinted at interest in helicopters as well as other products.