Key facts
- India aims to anchor military ties with the US as a 'resident power' in the Indo-Pacific.
- Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, head of the US Pacific Command, visited India.
- The visit followed discussions on trade tensions between the US and India.
India is seeking to strengthen its military relationship with the United States, positioning itself as a 'resident power' in the Indo-Pacific. This objective is underscored by the recent six-day visit of US Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, commander of the US Pacific Command, to India. The discussions, which concluded on Thursday, involved meetings with senior Indian defense officials and followed a previous visit by Paparo in February. These talks occur as the US considers further tariff measures against India, suggesting a complex interplay between security cooperation and trade relations. The US Indo-Pacific Strategy, as outlined in a 2022 White House document, emphasizes strategic competition with China and Russia, and India is seen as a crucial partner in this framework. The relationship has seen deepening security engagement, including foundational defense agreements and the expansion of naval cooperation, exemplified by the MALABAR exercise which has included Australia in recent years. The US aims to foster deeper engagement across all military services, not just naval cooperation.