On Thursday, President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a package of new defense and technology agreements during Modi’s state visit to the White House. In a joint statement from the White House, the broad agreements between the United States and India “aim to improve military cooperation and boost efforts on a wide range of issues, including space exploration, climate change, healthcare and work on emerging technologies.”
During an afternoon press conference with Biden and Modi at the White House, the President said the agreements will provide “unlimited potential” for both nations: “Mr. Prime Minister, we’ve met many times over the past few years, most recently in Hiroshima at the G7 Summit … And each time, I was struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Together, we’re unlocking a shared future of what I believe to be unlimited potential.”
Modi said: “Marking the day as one of special importance in the history of India-America relations. Friends, a trade and investment partnership between India and America is important not only for our two countries, but for the global economy, as well. Today, America is India’s biggest trade partner. We have decided to resolve long-pending trade-related issues and make a new beginning.”
The deals include a major commitment from India to purchase $3 billion worth of U.S.-built MQ9B SeaGuardian armed drones; and also includes a provision for the U.S. Navy to conduct service and repair work in Indian shipyards, and a plan for General Electric and India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics to work together to build more than 400 next-generation engines for both countries’ warplanes.
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