US confidence in India’s diversification of defence equipment, according to the Pentagon
According to the Pentagon, the US has a high degree of confidence in India’s diversification of military hardware and is optimistic that its proposal for industrial collaboration would further entwine the two nations’ respective defence sectors.
At a news conference on Tuesday, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, told reporters that the US urges all of its friends and partners to steer clear of doing business with Russia.
“We appreciate Prime Minister Modi coming to the US this week. Just two weeks ago, (Defence) Secretary (Lloyd) Austin travelled to India and had the opportunity to speak with Rajnath Singh, his colleague. Regarding the sanctions placed on Moscow, she added, “we always will continue to push our friends and partners throughout the globe to avoid doing business with Russia.
From June 21 to 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“We continue to have great faith in India’s ability to diversify its equipment, and over the next ten years, the US and Indian military sectors will be much more integrated thanks to our proposal for industrial collaboration. Therefore, I believe I’ll end it there,” Singh remarked.
“We have repeatedly emphasised that with Turkey, India, and other countries. There are, in my opinion, two very different and distinct circumstances, and when it comes to India, we continue to have faith in both their equipment diversity and our capacity to work together with them.
When questioned about potential defence agreements that may be inked during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Singh said, “I’m not going to get ahead of any announcements that might come out from the White House or any other agencies.”
Despite a warning from the previous Donald Trump administration that moving through with the transaction may draw US penalties, India struck a USD 5 billion agreement with Russia in October 2018 for the purchase of five S-400 air defence missile systems.
Russia’s most sophisticated long-range surface-to-air missile defence system is known as the S-400. The ‘Triumf’ interceptor-based missile system has a range of up to 400 km and can take down incoming enemy missiles, drones, and even aeroplanes.
In December 2021, Russia began delivering its first regiment of missile systems, and it has since been stationed to guard portions of its northern border with China as well as its border with Pakistan.
As both parties were committed to the deal, Russia said in February of this year that it will shortly finish supplying India with the third regiment of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems.
India has gotten a lot of its military equipment from Russia. In light of the Western sanctions on Moscow, the two nations have been discussing the kinds of payment channels that could be possible between them.
