US envoy says India-US defence ties built on ‘incredible trust’
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US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described the defence relationship between Washington and New Delhi as being built on “incredible trust”, saying cooperation between the two countries extends beyond military equipment sales.
“Our defence relationship is not just about sales. It’s also about trust,” Gor said in an interview with India Today, adding that the US does not sell military equipment to every country and considers India a trusted partner.
Gor said Washington sees an opportunity to work with countries it trusts to provide advanced military equipment and technology. He cited the Javelin anti-tank missile system and Apache helicopters as examples of ongoing defence cooperation.
The Indian Army’s agreement to acquire the Javelin system has also opened the possibility of greater defence technology transfer. Following the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the system, Tata Advanced Systems Limited signed a memorandum of understanding with the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, to explore co-production of the Javelin All Up Round in India.
The proposed initiative includes exploring a facility for final assembly and integration of the missiles, along with component production capabilities in India. It is expected to support knowledge transfer and strengthen India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
Gor said military exercises were another important part of the relationship, noting that India conducts more military exercises with the US than with any other country. He cited the upcoming bilateral UDAWAS exercise in Rajasthan as an example of continued cooperation.
The ambassador also pointed to the personal relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as another factor supporting bilateral ties. “They truly have a real friendship,” Gor said.