The US House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan legislation to bolster defence ties with India and bring the country at par with other NATO allies in terms of sale of defence equipment and technology transfer. The amendment (Enhancing Defence and Security Co-operation with India) was sponsored by Holding and Ami Bera (House India caucus chairs) as well as the chair and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs, Committee Ed Royce and Elliot Engel.

For the US, it encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of defence technology and maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

It urges the US government to enhance India’s military capabilities in the context of combined military planning and promote co-production or co-development opportunities.

For India, it encourages the government to authorise combined military planning with the US for missions of mutual interest such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy and maritime domain awareness.

The move has been welcomed by the US-India Business Council (USIBC). Among other things, House legislative approval requires the secretary of defence and secretary of state to jointly take actions that may be necessary to recognise India’s status as a major defence partner of the US.