As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his upcoming State visit to the US in June end, White House has reassured that India remains a vibrant democracy, dismissing concerns about the health of democracy in the country.
Addressing reporters at a news conference in Washington, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, stated, “India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody that, you know, happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves. And certainly, I would expect that the strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion.”
Kirby emphasised that the purpose of the State visit is to strengthen the partnership and friendship between the United States and India. He highlighted India’s significance as a strong partner across various levels, including defense cooperation, economic trade, membership in the Pacific Quad, and Indo-Pacific security cooperation. The remarks came on the same day when US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held extensive talks with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, further solidifying the roadmap for US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation. Austin also engaged in detailed discussions with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The Defense Industrial Cooperation aims to prioritise co-development of military platforms and hardware. During Modi’s visit to Washington, defense-related issues, including access to cutting-edge technology from the US, are likely to be discussed.
Meanwhile, the recently announced enhanced strategic and defense partnership between India and the US (INDUS-X) is expected to empower the industry and strengthen India’s role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Atul Keshap, President of the US India Business Council (USIBC). The USIBC will host the inaugural INDUS-X conference in partnership with the US Department of Defense and India’s Ministry of Defense.
Keshap highlighted the increasing importance of India as a major commercial and defense partner for the US. He praised the Security of Supply Chain Agreement and reciprocal defense procurement agreement, which were major calls from the industry, stating that these steps are vital in developing a high trust ecosystem and enabling ambitious endeavors in the private sector.
The INDUS-X conference aims to foster co-development and co-production between the two nations, promoting the exchange of technology, knowledge, and trust.