India destined to be a close partner of US: Pentagon

Noting that India wants to upgrade its military technology by not just buying them but through close technology cooperation and co-production, a top Pentagon official has said the country is destined to be a close partner of the US.

"India is, I think, destined to be a close partner of the United States. We just share so much in the way of values and aspirations, and our people just seem to mix it up so easily and so well."That has nothing to do with the defence or military but I think will be reflected there," Ashton Carter the Deputy Secretary of Defence said here yesterday.

    
He was speaking on the US Defence Rebalance in Asia at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies here."One area of particular importance where I think we would make a lot of progress quickly is in building the Indian military capabilities. They don't want to do it just by buying things. India wants to do it with close technology cooperation and co-production," Carter said in response to a question.
    

Earlier in his opening remarks, Carter said India is a key part of US rebalance in Asia."More broadly, (India is) an emerging power that we believe will help determine the broader security and prosperity of the 21st century with others," he said."Our security interests with India converge on maritime security and broader regional issues, including India's "Look East Policy. "We're also working to deepen our defence cooperation, moving beyond purely defence trade toward technology sharing and co-production," he said.

    
Carter added that the US rebalance towards Asia is the perpetuation of the pivotal American military role in the Asia-Pacific region, of providing the peace and stability that has allowed the countries of Asia, first Japan, then South Korea, Southeast Asia, and now China and India, to develop politically and economically in a climate that has been free from conflicts.