India, US defence ties to strengthen further in face of rising China

By Sumit Kumar Singh New Delhi, Jan 19 : The defence relationship has emerged as a major pillar in ties between India and the US over the last few years with intensification in defence trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy.
The strategic partnership between both countries is expected to strengthen further with a new government in the US led by President Joe Biden that is expected to carry out “steady investment and recalibration rather than redesigning” its Indo-Pacific agenda.
The defence and security relationship between both the countries will “continue to deepen, aided by robust political commitments in both countries and converging concerns about growing Chinese assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific.” “The US defence and security relationship with India is a modest but important piece of the Biden administration’s wider Indo-Pacific agenda, and one that will require steady investment and recalibration rather than major redesign,” stated a report of Brookings Institution, a non-profit public policy organisation based in Washington, DC.
As part of strategic partnership, India conducts more bilateral exercises with the US than with any other country. Some important bilateral exercises are: Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, Tarkash, Tiger Triumph, and Cope India.
“Both the countries’ armies are going for joint exercise in coming February along with counter terrorism exercises,” said a senior Indian Army officer.