STEPPING up defence cooperation, India and the US are poised to unveil a roadmap for industries in the sector to partner closely in co-production, co-development and maintaining supply change during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US beginning June 21. Prime Minister Modi, during his first State visit to the US, will also hold discussions with President Joe Biden on bettering trade and investment relations, besides forging closer ties in the techn o l o g y d o m a i n comprising telecom, space and manufacturing. Addressing a press conference here, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the Prime Minister will also be on a state visit to Egypt from June 24-25 at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisiduringwhichhe isalsoscheduled to visit 11th Century mosque Al-Hakim, whichwas refurbished and renovated by the Bohra community.

 

The Foreign Secretary said the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap was expected to be one of the key outcomes ofPMModi’s visittotheUS.“It essentially focuses on all aspects of defence co-productionandco-development.It also talks about how defence industrial ecosystems ofthe two countries could cooperate much better, how the supply lines in the field could al so interface with each other much better,”he said.Kwatra described defence cooperation as a “key pillar” of India’s relationship with the US. “If you look at the complete matrix of the India-US defence partnership,itis very robust,very dynamic, it has all the significant elements that make it so important.

 

“We conduct a large number of bilateral military exercises – both bilateral as also regional in nature. Armed forces have staff-to-staff engagement. India is also the deployer of the US equipment and platforms. Some of them are used by India,” he said. Modi will begin the visit to the US from New York, where he will lead the InternationalYoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters and meet prominent personalities and leaders onJune 21.Hewilltravel to Washington the same day and join President Biden and first lady Jill Biden for a private engagement.