INDIA-US STRATEGIC RELATIONS.IN ROBUST HEALTH

At the latest 2+2 Ministerial dialogue, India and the US forge a resilient alliance and unveil a multi-Faceted partnership for defence, innovation, and global security

- RANJIT KUMAR

WITH GROWING CONVERGENCE ON STRATEGIC ISSUES AND need to cooperate and work together to counter challenges being faced from China, India and US reaffirmed their commitment to check it’s aggressive behaviour by further intensifying joint moves in the Indo-Pacific region, through mechanisms like QUAD. However, Indo-US relations are not limited to China related considerations and as the outcome of the latest 2+2 ministerial dialogue, held on November 10, has shown that bilateral relations have become multi-faceted, indicating the robust health of the partnership.

DIVERSIFICATION OF BILATERAL RELATIONS

Besides taking roots in defence industrial cooperation, the relationship is now expanding to closer interactions between armed forces. To further develop closer interoperability, US and India are setting up new liaison positions to facilitate seamless communication and cooperation between their armed forces. The ministers welcomed grant of full membership to India in the multinational combined maritime forces (CMF), which is headquartered in Bahrain. The two sides are also discussing ways and means to maximise the shared benefits of the Logistics and Exchange memorandum agreement (LEMOA) and are identifying reciprocal steps both countries can take to enhance the reach of their respective militaries.