Defence relationship with India on excellent path: Pentagon

Washington DC(USA): The Indo-US defence relationship is on an “excellent path” and will continue to be so in the next administration and beyond, the Pentagon has said, days ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“The (Defence) secretary’s (Ashton Carter’s) commitment to this (India-US) is clear. We think the defence relationship with India is on an excellent path and will continue to be so in the next administration and beyond,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference.

Known as a friend of India and strong believer in a robust India-US defence relationship, Carter is the only American defence secretary to have so many trips to India and included New Delhi in his farewell overseas trip as well.

In his previous capacity, Carter was instrumental in the path-breaking India US Defence Technology and Transfer Initiative (DTTI), under which the two countries have started several joining development and co-production projects.

“Our relationship with India, you’ve seen the commitment made by this department and this Secretary of Defence and this administration to improving our defence relationship with India,” Cook said.

Responding to a question on restrictions on technology transfer to India due to the outdated arms control act of the US, Cook said obviously there are several aspects to it.

“There are limits on what we can do in terms of technology — the export of technology to India or any other country,” he said.

“And we’ll continue to abide by the law and to work with India in places where we can, where it’s appropriate for that kind of — for specific technology to be exported. Again, not just to India but to any country, but we’re gonna follow the law,” Cook said.