United States–India Military Partnership

During the Cold War, the U.S. and India stood on opposite sides of the geopolitical spectrum—Washington aligned with Pakistan, while New Delhi maintained close defense ties with the Soviet Union. Yet today, China’s military expansion, regional security concerns, and shared democratic values have brought the two nations closer than ever. The U.S. has designated India as a “Major Defense Partner,” granting it unprecedented access to advanced military technology, intelligence-sharing, and joint exercises. From Indo-Pacific security to counterterrorism, the U.S.-India defense partnership is now a cornerstone of regional stability and a counterweight to Beijing’s ambitions.

History

Cold War Period (1947–1991): India pursued a non-aligned strategy, maintaining strong ties with the Soviet Union while keeping limited military relations with the U.S.
Post-Cold War Engagement (1991–2000s): U.S.-India defense ties expanded with joint military exercises and arms purchases, culminating in the 2005 U.S.-India Defense Framework Agreement.
Modern Strategic Partnership (2016–Present): The U.S. recognized India as a Major Defense Partner (2016), leading to greater military interoperability, technology sharing, and logistics cooperation.

Key Characteristics

Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) (2016): Allows U.S. and Indian forces to use each other’s military bases for refueling and logistics.
Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) (2018): Enhances secure communications between U.S. and Indian forces.
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) (2020): Strengthens geospatial intelligence-sharing for military operations.
Malabar Exercise: Annual U.S.-India-Japan-Australia naval drill focused on Indo-Pacific security and China deterrence.
Yudh Abhyas & Vajra Prahar: U.S.-India joint army and special forces training exercises.
Cope India: Air force drills improving fighter jet interoperability and aerial combat tactics.
Cooperative Defence Procurement: India has purchased MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, Apache attack helicopters, and P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft from the U.S. The U.S. and India are co-developing next-generation defense technologies under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). India is expanding its defense industry collaboration with U.S. companies to reduce reliance on Russian weapons systems.

Strategic Importance

Indo-Pacific & China Containment: India plays a leading role in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, countering China’s military expansion and regional influence.
Strengthening the QUAD Alliance: India’s military ties with the U.S., Japan, and Australia reinforce regional security cooperation.
Counterterrorism & Intelligence Sharing: The partnership supports joint counterterrorism operations, cybersecurity cooperation, and intelligence-sharing on regional threats.
Expanding Naval & Maritime Security: India and the U.S. conduct joint naval patrols, anti-submarine warfare training, and freedom of navigation operations in the Indian Ocean.

Links

U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership
U.S.-India Strategic Framework Agreements
Malabar Naval Exercises