| US largest importer of Indian Defence Products • The United States has become the largest importer of Indian defence products, comprising nearly 50% of India’s total defence exports. • India has seen a remarkable increase in its defence exports over the past decade, with a 30-fold rise. • Currently, India supplies defence products to over 90 countries. • Indian Defence exports reached 21083 Cr in 2023-24. |
• India and the US signed two important agreements, the non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers during the Defence Minister’s visit to the USA.
Security of Supply Arrangement –
• SOSA mandates reciprocal priority support between India and the US for goods and services critical to national defence.
• The arrangement enhances supply chain resilience.
• India becomes the 18th partner in the US’s SOSA network.
• SOSA supports mutual priority delivery requests for critical defence resources and implements the “Meeting National Defence Requirements” section of overarching defence cooperation principles.
• Though not legally binding, SOSA is a significant step in US-India defence ties. However, it lacks legal enforceability and is not sanction-proof.
Memorandum of Agreement on Liaison Officers –
• Enhances information sharing by posting Indian armed forces officers in strategic US commands, with the first deployment to the Headquarters Special Operations Command in Florida.
Dig Deeper: Read about LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA agreements between the US and India.
