U.S. keen on high-tech defence ties with India

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1452927.ece

Voicing "the U.S. support for India's expanding global reach," a top American official has emphasised Washington's "preparedness now to share with India the most advanced technology" in the defence and economic domains.

Speaking at a policy forum here, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Geoffrey Pyatt suggested that New Delhi, for its part, "adopt a 'Be East' policy "¦ that expands India's market and security integration across the Asian region."

Tracing new trends in U.S. defence ties with India, as evident during President Barack Obama's recent visit to New Delhi, Mr. Pyatt noted New Delhi's "resolve to develop a military capacity that matches its expanding strategic horizons and increasing global interests." So the U.S. was now "talking [to New Delhi] a lot" about the "two strong American competitors" for the Indian tender for 126 multi-role combat aircraft, worth about $11 billion.

In prepared remarks for the speech, he had gone a step further in emphasising that "such a deal would [if it happens] revolutionise our [U.S.-India] military relationship."

The policy forum was organised by the local Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) in association with the U.S. Embassy and the Indian High Commission here, ahead of a planned business mission to India by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.

ISAS chairman Gopinath Pillai moderated the discussion on U.S. policy towards India.

U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, David Adelman, will mentor the planned business mission to India.

On a different but related front, Japan has recently emphasised its desire to deepen security ties with India.
 

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