America’s top defense official and top diplomat made their best effort to smooth over any areas of tension between Washington and New Delhi, and they were able to come to an agreement with their Indian counterparts on Thursday on a new security agreement.
At stake was Washington’s goal to increase security cooperation, including arms sales, with New Delhi at a time when India is balancing its relationship with the US with ties to BRICS partners China and Russia.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has notably decided to purchase Russian-made S-400 missile systems, despite US opposition, a move that US Defense Secretary James Mattis played down on his way to India this week.
“I want you to remember that freedom means that at times, nations don’t agree with each other. That doesn’t mean we can’t be partners,” he told reporters regarding the S-400 purchase.
After the “2+2” dialogue, which included Mattis’ and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Indian counterparts, the two sides announced the signing of the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement), which Mattis said paved the way for sharing “sensitive technology” with India.
Pompeo hailed the development as marking a new height in US-India cooperation.
“The kickoff of the 2+2 was pretty special, a historic level of relationship that the two countries have not previously had,” Pompeo said, speaking at a press breifing. “We’re happy that we were able to announce two agreements with India, the COMCASA agreement, and we also agreed to enhance our military cooperation with India as our major defense partner,” he added.
Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said that, with the increased military cooperation between the two countries, bilateral ties had risen to “a new level.”
As for what weapons India is looking at purchasing from the US, the director of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Lieutenant-General Charlie Hooper, said simply that discussions were under way to sell “many, many systems” to India, according to the Financial Times.
Another US official reportedly said India’s shopping list included advanced drones, helicopters and fighter jets, including F-16 and F-18 aircraft to replace Russian models.
Pompeo played up the friendly optics of the event on social media:
Excited to be in #Delhi with Sec Mattis @DeptofDefense to engage with our strategic partner #India @SushmaSwaraj & @nsitharaman on critical diplomatic & security priorities at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue #2Plus2Dialogue @StateDept pic.twitter.com/Ecb1ljck5p
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) September 6, 2018
Ganpatt Ram, be careful about too much sweetness, somentimes it causes diabetes. We are not over thrown, rather we have thrown them, cause they are good for nothing. And they can never be sincere to any one except the white race. They have the tradition of milking others and then slaughtering when there’s no milk left. Best of luck!
Ganpatt Ram , regretfully, Indians are so narrow-minded, they always begin with and end at PAKISTAN, whereas, Pakistanis are smart enough to refuse boarding the sinking ship called USA. 9/10th of the world hates the US present policies. Well, no wonder she is a sinking ship and sure, it will sink India with it very soon.
The two countries are side by side orbitting the sun of truth and freedom.
Burn with jealousy, China, russia and Pakistan !
The USA sees India as a crucial ally to help prevent Chinese world hegemony. This alliance was inevitable.
Especially sweet as Pakistan was thrown overboard.
Only interesting part of the whole report is it is nice to see 2 Women Indian Ministers meeting 2 macho Americans
Katherine Marie Kenney but both of u are terrorists funding sources of terror
Perry kamath yet another chootiya comment from an Indian……lol
Katherine Marie Kenney, plz stop harping terrorism, terrorism, the much trumpeted cry of India has already out-dated since long time ago. It’s time to invent some new propaganda tool. So, we expect some new form of propaganda from Indians now, because with their old one India is no longer able to befool the world any more.
Arthur Micol
It’s funny to see India’s foolish jubilation after opting to board the sinking ship. We wish you best of luck Indians!
India finally coming to the orbit of USA by signing COMCASA.