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Source- This post on New US-India Defense Agreements has been created based on the article “Explained: The two new US-India agreements, signed as part of growing defence ties” published in “Indian Express” on 27th August 2024.
Why in News?
India and the US have recently signed two key defense agreements during Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the US to enhance their bilateral military cooperation.
About Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)
1. The Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) is a key agreement recently signed between the United States and India. It is legally non-binding.
2. SOSA commits both countries to provide reciprocal priority support for critical goods and services for national defense.
3. The agreement enables rapid acquisition of necessary industrial resources to address supply chain disruptions, ensuring national security needs are met.
4. With India as the 18th SOSA partner, the agreement underscores a strategic effort to fortify the defense supply chain between the two nations.
5. In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense is working on a legally binding Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) Agreement with India to enhance defense cooperation and equipment standardization.
About Memorandum of Agreement on the Assignment of Liaison Officers
1. This agreement is the second significant pact between India and the U.S. It involves the deployment of Indian armed forces officers to key U.S. strategic commands.
2. The first Indian Liaison Officer will be stationed at the U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters in Florida.
3. The placement aims to foster closer cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, and improve integrated operational capabilities between the two militaries.
4. This initiative bolsters strategic ties and operational synergy to address common security challenges.
Other Defence and Security Cooperations between India and US
1. The 2023 US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation focuses on co-production of defense technologies, integrating Indian industries into global supply chains, and developing infrastructure to serve as a regional hub in the Indo-Pacific.
2. Foundational agreements enhancing military cooperation include GSOMIA (2002), LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), and BECA (2020).
Read More: India-US Agreement on Defence Supply Chain
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology (Defence)
