(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Jim Mattis in India: What is expected to get done?
26 Sep 2017
US Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis has arrived in India for a two-day visit. He was welcomed by India's defense minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.
During his visit, Mattis is scheduled to hold meetings with Sitharaman, PM Modi, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The visit is expected to bolster India-US defense ties, especially as Washington is rooting for a greater role for India in Afghanistan.
Why is this visit significant?
Fact
This marks the first cabinet-level visit to India under the Trump presidency and Sitharaman's first major engagement with a foreign counterpart. This is also the first engagement of its kind after Trump urged India to play a greater role in Afghanistan in August 2017.
What are the discussions likely to focus on?
Discussions
Mattis is expected to discuss maritime security, a joint concern for India and the US in the face of the Chinese navy's increased presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
An announcement on a joint naval exercise focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is expected.
The discussions will also focus on how India can pitch in with respect to Trump's Afghanistan strategy.
Mattis to discuss drone sale, joint defense development
Defense partnership
US defense majors Lockheed Martin and Boeing have both offered to manufacture their F-16 and F/A-18 fighter jets, respectively, in India to meet Indian Air Force and navy requirements.
Mattis would likely make the case for both US firms while meeting his Indian counterpart.
However, Trump's protectionist agenda could dent Modi's 'Make in India' program for defense production.
What does India expect from the visit?
Expectations
The US designated India a major defense partner last year. India hopes for further elevation of bilateral defense ties in order to get better access to US defense technology.
Sitharaman and Mattis are also expected to develop the sort of equation that India's former defense minister Manohar Parikkar shared with former US defense secretary Ash Carter, which had helped push bilateral defense ties forward.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.