As India and the United States step up their defence cooperation, the two countries are poised to unveil a roadmap for industries in the sector to partner closely in production and development, as well as maintaining supply change during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US which will begin on 21 June. During his first state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Modi will also hold discussions with President Joe Biden for bettering trade and investment relations and forging closer ties in the technology domain comprising telecom, space, and manufacturing. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra at a press conference said that the Prime Minister will also be on undertake a state visit to Egypt on 24 and 25 June at the behest of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The PM is scheduled to visit the 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque, which was refurbished and renovated by the Bohra community.
The Foreign Secretary said the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap was expected to be one of the key outcomes of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US. “It essentially focuses on all aspects of defence co-production and co-development.
It also talks about how defence industrial ecosystems of the two countries could cooperate much better, how the supply lines in the field of defence industry could also interface with each other much better,” he said. Kwatra described defence cooperation as a “key pillar” of India’s relationship with the US. “If you look at the complete matrix of the India-US defence partnership, it is very robust, very dynamic, it has all the significant elements that make it so important. “We conduct a large number of bilateral military exercises–both bilateral as also regional in nature. Armed forces have staff-to-staff engagement. India is also the deployer of the US equipment and platforms. Some of them are used by India,” he said.
PM Modi will begin his visit to the US from New York, where he will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters then meet prominent leaders on 21 June. The Prime Minister will also be travelling to Washington the same day and join President Biden and first lady Jill Biden for a private engagement. Prime Minister Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House on 22 June, followed by a formal bilateral meeting with the US President. President Biden and the First Lady will also host a state dinner in honour of the PM on Thursday evening. On Friday, the Prime Minister will interact with select Chief Executive Officers of leading companies.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken are also scheduled to host a state luncheon. Prime Minister Modi will also address the Indian-American community at the Reagan Centre. “It is a milestone in our relationship. It is a very significant visit, a very important visit, a visit on which there is a genuine, widespread and deep interest in the US,” Kwatra said, adding that Modi has visited the US six times since 2014.
