Early Times Report
Jammu, July 11: India under the Narendra Modi Government has scored a great diplomatic victory. The US Senate has passed a strategic legislative provision that gives India "NATO ally status alongside other countries, including Israel and South Korea, for increasing defence cooperation".
According to reports, "the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020 has been passed by the US Senate". The bill, as per reports, was "co-sponsored by Senate India Caucus Co-Chair Senator John Cornyn with the support of Senate India Caucus Co-Chair Senator Mark Warner".
The bill provides for "increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean and special impetus on humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security".
If this bill is to be become a law, it has to be passed by both the chambers of Congress -the US Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) commended Senators Cornyn and Warner for their efforts in advancing the US-India strategic partnership. "Elevating India to non-NATO status is vital, now more than ever, for the US, for India, and for the entire region," HAF managing director Samir Kalra said while commenting on this important development.
It needs to be underlined that India was recognized as a "Major Defence Partner" in 2016, giving access to advanced and sensitive technologies from America at par with that of the US' closest allies and partners. |
