![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
India and the United States have begun a careful reset of their defence ties. A high-level visit by the US Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge Colby indicates an effort to stabilise the partnership amid the escalating conflict in West Asia and ongoing bilateral tensions.
The 18th India–US Defence Policy Group meeting, held in New Delhi on March 25, was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Colby. Officials said the talks reviewed ongoing cooperation and identified new priority areas for co-development and co-production of military platforms.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding military-to-military engagement through joint exercises, training exchanges and strategic consultations, according to the Defence Ministry. Discussions also touched upon potential acquisitions, including additional Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, Excalibur precision-guided artillery ammunition, and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
Colby underscored India’s importance in the Indo-Pacific, describing it as central to maintaining a favourable balance of power. He pointed to India’s geography, economic weight and growing military capability as critical factors shaping regional dynamics.
On the sidelines, Colby also met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. According to the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the two sides exchanged views on defence cooperation, regional security and ways to deepen the strategic partnership.
The broader strategic context, particularly the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, dominated deliberations. Energy security and regional stability emerged as key concerns, with officials indicating that differences persist over India’s continued reliance on Russian oil and its wider strategic autonomy.
The visit comes amid persistent irritants in the relationship. Washington’s tariffs on Indian exports and its criticism of New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow have created friction in recent months. Tensions were further exacerbated by the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this month, by a US submarine, triggering unease in India, particularly as the incident occurred outside a declared conflict zone.
Officials acknowledge that such developments have raised questions in New Delhi about the reliability of the US as a long-term defence partner, especially in critical areas such as fighter aircraft and frontline systems. Washington’s past record of sanctions threats and technology transfer restrictions continues to weigh on Indian assessments.
Colby’s visit is viewed as a sign of Washington’s commitment to stabilising defence ties and advancing the framework of the India-U.S. Major Defence Partnership. While the U.S. is eager to increase arms sales and enhance technology collaboration, officials from both countries suggest that expectations should remain realistic due to geopolitical challenges.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
