New Delhi, June 14
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Political Affairs, Mr Gregory Suchan today indicated at a major expansion of supply of American hi-tech defence and aviation hardware to India.
“We have had ups and downs in our relationships...But now our defence trade should truly reflect the nature of our prevailing ties”, Mr Suchan told mediapersons after meeting top Indian officials here.
Mr Suchan’s direct responsibilities include supervision of the Directorate of Defence Trade Controls (PM/DDTC) and its four constituent offices: Defence Trade Controls Policy (PM/DTCP), Defence Trade Controls Licensing (PM/DTCL), Defence Trade Controls Compliance (PM/DTCC) and Defence Trade Controls Management (PM/DTCM).
He said he had discussed the “broad issues” of defence ties between the two countries during his meetings with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence here.
Expressing optimism about the future Indo-US Defence Trade links, Mr Suchan today said that he expected India to secure from the United States mainly high-tech products in the fields of aviation, avionics and hi-tec naval systems.
Mr Suchan said his current visit here was to “reassure India about assured continuity of supplies” in the future. Indo-US ties have been progressing at a very fast pace with the second half of 2004 witnessing strides being taken between the two countries to further consolidate the growing high-technology relationship, he said.
Ever since the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George Bush in September, Indo-US defence ties had been witnessing a new momentum.
Subsequent to the meeting, the two leaders issued a statement marking the launch of the second phase in the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership.
These measures
allowed the US to modify its export licensing policies to foster increased cooperation in the Commercial Space Programmes and permit certain exports to power plants and safe-guarded nuclear facilities. Cooperation in defence production was one of the areas identified for cooperation between the two countries.
