US-India Military Ties: Admiral Paparo’s Key Visit and Future Partnership Plans

This week, Admiral Samuel J Paparo, the leader of the US Indo-Pacific Command, visited India to talk about improving military ties between the US and India. He met with important leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The discussions focused on renewing a 10-year defense agreement called the Major Defence Partnership, which aims to strengthen cooperation in military, trade, and technology. This partnership, created in 2016 when the US named India a Major Defence Partner, allows India to access advanced military technologies more easily.

During his visit from March 16 to 19, Admiral Paparo also attended the Raisina Dialogue, a key conference in India about global politics. There, he and defense officials from countries like Australia and Japan discussed security threats at sea and how to keep trade routes safe. They also talked about using new technologies, like artificial intelligence and drones, in defense.

Paparo’s visit helps support a US-India initiative called COMPACT, which aims to boost collaboration across various fields like defense, trade, and technology. By enhancing mutual understanding, the US and India hope to renew their defense framework for the coming decade, contributing to global peace.