“US Bilateral defense trade with India has grown exponentially year-over-year – U.S. Consul General Jennifer Larson”

Hyderabad: The U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad, the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata and CUTS International organized a day-long workshop in Hyderabad today entitled “Defense News Conclave: Stories of U.S.-India Defense and Security Partnership” to highlight the strength of the bilateral defense and security partnership between the United States and India, and the growing U.S.- India strategic relationship in the Indo-Pacific region. 

In opening remarks, U.S. Consul General Jennifer Larson remarked that “Few areas of U.S.-India relations have seen as much recent progress as the defense relationship. Over the last two decades, the U.S. has become a significant supplier of defense equipment to India and has become India’s largest military exercise partner.” She added that “Bilateral defense trade with India has grown exponentially year-over-year. We were at essentially zero in 2008, and that number has grown to reach almost U.S. $25 billion by the end of 2023.” 

Consul General Larson stated that several U.S. aerospace companies have established partnerships with Indian counterparts, facilitating technology transfer and enhancing indigenous defense production capabilities in India, including several taking place in Hyderabad. “Together, both nations have taken steps to improve inter-operability and coordination and signed technical agreements to further expand India’s access to high-end American defense technology.” 

Addressing distinguished panelists and workshop participants,  the Consul General also discussed the increase in joint U.S- India military exercises and cooperation, “including those involving the U.S. and Indian Navies held at Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command.”  Joint service exercises like Tiger Triumph are important as they “help our navies work effectively, side-by-side, in providing disaster relief for communities devastated by tsunamis, earthquakes, and floods across the region.” 

Finally, Jennifer Larson remarked that the U.S. is committed to achieving a “free, open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient, and secure region for all