WASHINGTON: Siddharth Iyer, Director for South Asia at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy), Department of Defense, highlighted a paradigm shift and significant momentum in the US-India defense relationship. Speaking at a roundtable on the future of the partnership, focusing on technology collaboration and maritime strategy, Iyer emphasized the evolving nature of the relationship.

Organized by The US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum and CUTS International, the roundtable explored avenues for enhanced cooperation. Iyer noted the remarkable progress in the bilateral relationship, particularly in recent years, indicating a shift towards a more positive trajectory rather than being defined solely by differences on key issues.

He highlighted three significant areas of growth in the defense partnership. Firstly, Iyer underscored the deepening of technology cooperation between the two countries. Secondly, he emphasized the increasing frequency and depth of operational engagements between their militaries. Lastly, he pointed out the expansion of high-level bilateral engagements, indicating a robust and multifaceted relationship.

Ryan Holliway, Political-Military Officer from the Department of State, emphasized the strategic importance of the US-India partnership, considering it as one of the most consequential relationships globally. He highlighted the partnership as a crucial pillar for a free and open Indo-Pacific in the 21st century.

Pradeep Mehta, Secretary-General of CUTS International, discussed the potential of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to further strengthen US-India ties. He highlighted iCET as a platform for strategic convergence and policy alignment, especially in defense and security domains.

Mehta emphasized the importance of India-US technology cooperation in accelerating advancements and fostering innovation. He described the relationship as at an opportune moment for further collaboration and mutual benefit.