DTTI meet in New Delhi

The India-US bilateral defence trade is expected to reach US$18 billion by year-end and the US is committed to strengthening its partnership with India while furthering military-to-military relationships and cooperation.

Undersecretary of Defence For Acquisition And Sustainment Ellen M Lord underlined this ahead of the India-US Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative or DTTI group meeting in New Delhi this week

“Bilateral defence trade, essentially zero in 2008, will reach an estimated US$18 billion later this year,” she told reporters at the Pentagon.

Lord will co-chair the ninth India-US Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative or DTTI group meeting with her co-chair Secretary for Defence Protection Apurva Chandra.

“As the US Department of Defence leads for DTTI, I’m excited to continue working with our Indian major defence partner,” Press Trust of India quoted Lord as saying on 19 Oct 2019.

The US granted the India Strategic Trade Authority Tier 1 designation last August, providing New Delhi with greater supply-chain efficiency by allowing American companies to export a greater range of dual-use and high-technology items to India under streamlined processes.

This grants India the same authorisation as NATO allies Japan, South Korea and Australia, she stressed.

“All of these examples show how the United States and India are working bilaterally and in cooperation with other like-minded partners to advance our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific,” Lord said.

Responding to a question, Lord said she personally had seen an uptick in the pace of movement in India and the willingness to engage.

“We truly are developing some new capabilities together for production in India, as well as to be produced here,” PTI had Lord as saying. fiinews.com