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On January 20th, The US Secretary of Defence, Dr. Robert N Gates, met the Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony in New Delhi to discuss exchanged views and perspectives on a number of issues, including the regional security situation and global security challenges.
A press release issued by the defence ministry said, “Mr. Antony and Dr Gates both expressed satisfaction about the improvement in bilateral defence relations since the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreement in 2005.”
Both sides also expressed optimism about the prospects for enhancement of bilateral defence relations in all areas, including military to military interactions and the area of defence trade. The two Ministers also discussed prospects for cooperation between both sides in the protection of the global commons and in the area of maritime security and counter-terrorism.
Mr. Antony conveyed to Dr. Gates the Indian concerns regarding the denial of export licenses for various defence related requirement of the Armed Forces, and also regarding the inclusion of some Indian Defence PSUs and DRDO labs in the ‘Entity List’ of the US Government. The press release stated that Mr Antony expressed the view that such restrictions were anomalous in the context of the steady improvement in the bilateral defence relations between both countries.
The US Secretary of Defence informed Mr. Antony that President Obama has initiated a comprehensive reform of US export control regulations, and assured that this would involve facilitation in the supply of defence technology and equipment to India.
Mr. AK Antony conveyed the view that the bilateral defence trade relations between India and the USA should move from a purely buyer-seller relationship, to a more comprehensive relationship covering transfer of technology and co-production, further referring to the US Government’s proposal to conclude certain umbrella agreements like CISMOA. Mr Antony expressed the view that the proposed agreements would need to be assessed from the view point of the benefits which would accrue to India.
Dr. Gates was accompanied by senior officials from the US Department of Defence. The Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence were also present during the meeting.
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