Admiral John Christopher Aquilino, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, has said that India and the United States are facing similar security challenges from China. Aquilino stated that the Biden Administration is providing assistance to India with cold weather gear and helping India develop its own industrial base as it defends its northern border against Chinese pressure. Aquilino noted that the importance of the relationship between India and the United States cannot be overstated, as both countries have a desire to operate together based on common values and people ties. The two countries frequently operate together with the Quad Nations, although it is not a security agreement but a diplomatic and economic one. Aquilino added that the US is expanding its cooperation with India by producing critical components, such as C-130 and helicopter frameworks, in India. Jedidiah P Royal, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security, said that the recently launched India-US initiative for critical and emerging technology has already started delivering offers under the ISAT arrangement. He also stated that India is facing the same challenger as the United States in the region and that there is a moment of strategic convergence in the relationship between the two countries.
The India-US initiative for critical and emerging technology was announced by the national security advisors of both countries, and Jedidiah P Royal, who is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security, stated that they are already delivering offers under the context of the ISAT arrangement. The ISAT arrangement stands for the India-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in 2005 to promote collaboration between the two countries in the field of science and technology. The recent initiative is aimed at strengthening cooperation between India and the US in critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G.
