US India Security Council welcomes Major Defence Partner status to India

NEW DELHI: The US India Security Council, a non-profit organisation that works for closer ties between the two countries, today welcomed the Major Defence Partner status to India, terming it as a "high landmark achievement".

On December 9, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and outgoing US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter finalised the Major Defence Partner status to India which will fast-track cooperation and sharing of high-end defence technology.

The US India Security Council Inc is a Washington-based bipartisan organisation to encourage closer ties between US and India. It also promotes the idea that US future security would be greatly enhanced by working closely with India.

"It took USIS Council more than two years of diligent research, hard work, and expenses to accomplish this endeavour, which was financed by Indian Americans," a statement from USIS Council said.

The statement also claimed that the Council members met Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.

"We received their input and tacit approval," the statement said, adding the bureaucracies of both the countries were sceptical on this.

The Council also claimed that, it hired powerful lobbyists McCarthy of Akin Gump, who drafted and researched on the first document, which became foundation of the language and later the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017 law.

The statement added the Council also approached Congressmen and senior staff members of the US Armed Forces and Foreign Relations Committee and convinced them of the importance of the deal.