Team Blitz India
In the evolving dynamics of the US-India defence alliance, a senior Pentagon official has highlighted a paradigm shift towards a trajectory-driven relationship. Siddharth Iyer, Director for South Asia at the Office of the Secretary of Defence (Policy), remarked on this transformation during a roundtable discussion on the future of US-India Defence Partnership, organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and CUTS International in Washington.
“Incredible progress has been witnessed in the India-US relationship, emphasising momentum over discrepancies,” Iyer said. He noted the evolution in the Defence Department’s outlook, where security cooperation now takes precedence, departing from its past sensitivity.
Iyer delineated three key facets of the defence collaboration, emphasising deep-rooted technology cooperation and intensified military engagements. Additionally, he underscored the significance of heightened bilateral engagements at senior levels, reflecting the frequency and depth of interactions between the two nations.
The Department of State’s Ryan Holliway, Political-Military Officer, echoed the sentiment, describing the US-India partnership as crucial in fostering a free and open IndoPacific region. CUTS International’s SecretaryGeneral, Pradeep Mehta, lauded the launch of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) as a potential game-changer in bilateral relations. He emphasised its role in amplifying strategic convergence and policy alignment, especially in defence and security domains. Mehta highlighted the recent midterm review’s success as evidence of the initiative’s efficacy, signalling expanded collaboration across sensitive areas.
“This underscores the depth of cooperation and trust between our nations,” remarked Mehta, underscoring the aim of India-US Technology Corporation to fortify the strategic partnership through talent harnessing and technological advancement.
