US House calls for expansion of defence coop with India

Ahead new US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India, the House of Representatives on Friday passed an amendment calling for expansion of the Indo-US defence cooperation and welcoming India’s role in providing security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The amendment to the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2016 was moved by a bipartisan group of Congressmen including Joe Crowley, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus; Eliot Engel, Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee; Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and the two Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans Ami Bera and George Holding.

In addition to urging an overall expansion in defence ties, the amendment specifically calls for the US to welcome the role India plays in providing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

It urges the US government to work cooperatively with India on matters relating to common defence, vigorously support the implementation of the US-India Defense Framework Agreement, as well as support the India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).

This was the first vote held by the House on US-India since the 2014 Indian <g data-gr-id="24">elections,</g> and comes on the heels of the defense framework advanced by US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January.

The vote comes ahead of Carter’s visit to India in June during which he will sign the enhanced Defence Framework Agreement for the next ten years between the two countries.

“One of the most important decisions the US has made in recent years is to strengthen our relationship with India, including cooperation and coordination on defence matters,” Crowley said.

“Our amendment makes clear that the US Congress stands firmly behind expanding and moving our defence relationship forward as we strengthen our overall strategic partnership with India,” he said.