Washington: Seeing the Indian Navy defeating pirates and extremists like the Houthis of Yemen, America has become convinced of this might of India. In the last few months, as soon as the news of attacks on ships of many countries of the world was received, the Indian Navy has reached as an angel to protect them as Vishwabandhu. In almost all the attacks, the Indian Navy has protected foreign ships and their crews by defeating the pirates and attackers. Due to this, America is impressed by the strength of the Indian Navy. Therefore, it has now expressed its desire to work together with India. This has already created panic among India’s enemies.
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Washington, said that India and America are willing to work together and benefit from each other’s experiences. He made this remark after inspecting a top US Naval War Material Center in Maryland on Saturday. He is on a four-day official visit to the US to further strengthen the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the US and India. Rajnath said in a post on ‘X’, “Visited the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Carderock and saw important experiments being conducted at this center.” He said, “India and America are keen to work together and benefit from each other’s experiences.”
Talks with US NSA and Defense Minister Austin
During his Washington visit, Rajnath Singh met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin. Austin said, “We share the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and our defense cooperation with India is continuously getting stronger. We are expanding our defense industrial relations and working to co-produce more capabilities and strengthen supply chains.” He highlighted India’s participation in the ‘Rim of the Pacific’, a large-scale exercise led by the US Navy in Hawaii in which 29 partner countries participated.
America said- Indian Navy became an angel in crisis
US Defense Minister Austin said- ‘Indian sailors have helped the Navy in crisis and protected global trade. That’s why we are committed to strengthening naval cooperation and working more together with unmanned technology.’ Rajnath Singh said that the growing cooperation “includes all areas of human endeavor.” A day before the meeting of Austin and Singh, both the countries signed a Security System of Supply (SOSA) agreement to meet the needs of national security.
Under this, both the countries have agreed to provide mutual priority based support for goods and services that promote national security. V. Ramdas, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, US Department of Defense, said, “These agreements represent an important link in the key defense relationship between the US and India and will be a key factor in strengthening the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).”
US will provide anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys to India
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved a possible foreign military sale of ‘anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys’ and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of $52.8 million. This proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship. It will help improve the security of a major defense partner that remains an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
According to the statement, the proposed sale will improve India’s ability to deal with current and future threats and will also enhance the ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations with MH-60R helicopters. It said India would have no difficulty in incorporating this equipment into its armed forces.
