<div>The US on Thursday designated India as a “major defence partner” finalising a set of licensing rules that it would use while transferring critical defence technologies. “Our defence relationship takes a major step as we designate India a major defence partner,” visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said at the delegation level meeting with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar.<br /><br />While the Barack Obama administration recognised India as a major defence partner in June, a defence ministry source said licensing rules had now been finalised. India looks for several crucial technologies from the US as part of its plans to modernise the armed forces.<br /><br />“The designation of major defence partner is a status unique to India and institutionalises the progress made to facilitate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level at a par with that of the US’s closest allies and partners, and ensures enduring cooperation into the future,” read a joint statement issued after Parrikar-Carter meeting.</div>
<div>The US on Thursday designated India as a “major defence partner” finalising a set of licensing rules that it would use while transferring critical defence technologies. “Our defence relationship takes a major step as we designate India a major defence partner,” visiting US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said at the delegation level meeting with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar.<br /><br />While the Barack Obama administration recognised India as a major defence partner in June, a defence ministry source said licensing rules had now been finalised. India looks for several crucial technologies from the US as part of its plans to modernise the armed forces.<br /><br />“The designation of major defence partner is a status unique to India and institutionalises the progress made to facilitate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level at a par with that of the US’s closest allies and partners, and ensures enduring cooperation into the future,” read a joint statement issued after Parrikar-Carter meeting.</div>
