India is One of Our Premier Security Partners in Indo-Pacific region: U.S. State Department

The Trump Administration is working to strengthen India-U.S. defence cop-operation by fast-forwarding defence deals as well as working on defence exercises in India's strategic neighbourhood. The Trump administration's approval of a defence deal to sell six Apache attack helicopters to India underscores the U.S. government's interest in enhancing India's ability to deter regional threats.

Noting that India and the United States share enduring interests and values as the oldest and largest democracies, the official said India is a key partner in America's efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability and growing prosperity.

“U.S.-India defence and security cooperation continues to undergo a rapid expansion as part of our deepening strategic partnership. India is now one of our premier security partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” the State Department official told PTI.

India-US defence trade cooperation continues to expand, including through the US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, a partnership begun in 2012 which seeks to create opportunities for US-India co-production and co-development, foster science and technology cooperation, and remove bureaucratic barriers to trade, the official said.

In 2016, India was also awarded the status of a U.S. Major Defence Partner, which allows India to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies that are regulated by the Department of Commerce.

The two countries also agreed to an updated ten-year Defence Framework Agreement in June 2015 to guide and expand their bilateral defence and strategic partnership until 2025.

India participates in the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme, and has received at least USD 1 million of IMET funding since 2003 for the purpose of facilitating Indian participation in professional military education courses at Department of Defense institutions of higher learning like the National Defense University and Naval War College. Seven of the last commanders of the Indian Navy have been IMET graduates.

India is one of the largest contributors of UN peacekeepers, with over 50 years of experience as a troop and police contributing country. India is also an active partner in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), a Department of State-led effort to train and equip partner countries for peacekeeping missions.