Geopolitics

The deal will take the total number of F-35s to 75 in the Israeli air force and will be financed by aid from the United States Grant to Israeli defence services

Israel will buy a third squadron of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States, Image: lockheedmartin.com

Israel will buy a third squadron of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States. The deal, that was announced by the Israel Defence Ministry on Feburary 7, 2023, is worth 3 billion USD.

While Israel is already operating these high stealth aircraft, this deal will take the total number of F-35s to 75 in the Israeli air force. This deal will be financed by aid from the United States Grant to Israeli defence services and will enhance the firepower of the Israeli air force to counter enemy threats.

About Israel’s F35 Lightning II Stealth fighter jets

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multi-role combat aircraft. It is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter jet in the world. The F35 gives pilots a critical advantage against any adversary, enabling them to execute their missions and come home safely.

Additionally, it can conduct electronic warfare and conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. With Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as main partners, Lockheed Martin is the primary F-35 contractor. There are three primary versions of the fighter jet: the F-35A for conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), the F-35B for short takeoff and landing (STOVL), and the F-35C for carrier-based (CV/CATOBAR) operations.

The F-35 is a family of single-engine, supersonic, stealth-role multi-fighters. To achieve a high level of situational awareness and long-range lethality, it places a strong emphasis on low observables, sophisticated avionics, and sensor fusion. The United States Air Force (USAF) considers this aircraft as the primary strike fighter for conducting suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) missions, owing to its advanced sensors and mission systems.

It is the most advanced node in a 21st-century security network-centric architecture. In the highly contested battlespace versus peer adversaries, dominance will be determined by the ability to securely connect high-tech platforms to share information across all the domains- i.e. land, sea, air, space and cyber. It is more than just a fighter jet, it is a powerful force multiplier with advanced sensors and communications suites operating close to the battlefield and from an elevated position significantly enhancing the capabilities of networked airborne, maritime, space, surface and ground-based platforms.

The F-35 Lightning II's Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is a lightweight, high-performance, and versatile system that offers accurate air-to-air and air-to-surface targeting. Integrating the JASSM, LRSAM and new technologies into the F-35 suite continues to increase the multirole mission capabilities helping to continue to make the F-35 the most lethal, stealthy and survivable aircraft in the world.

It plays an integral role in 21st-century security. It gathers, analyses, and effortlessly shares crucial information across platforms and services using its cutting-edge sensors and connectivity. Israel is the first country after the US to acquire the F-35 fighters. The 3 billion dollar deal will strengthen the Israeli air force to counter any major threats to its lands.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.run/post/19256

The bridge collapsed overnight near Columbus, Montana causing several train cars to be immersed in the Yellowstone River.

Portions of a freight train plunged into the Yellowstone River due to bridge collapse. (Image: AP)

A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hazardous materials into the rushing water below.

The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services said. Officials shut down drinking water intakes downstream while they evaluated the danger after the 6 a.m. accident. An Associated Press reporter witnessed a yellow substance coming out of some of the tank cars.

David Stamey, the county’s chief of emergency services, said there was no immediate danger for the crews working at the site, and the hazardous material was being diluted by the swollen river. There were three asphalt cars and four sulfur cars in the river.

The train crew was safe and no injuries were reported, Montana Rail Link spokesman Andy Garland said in a statement. The asphalt and sulfur both solidify quickly when exposed to cooler temperatures, he said.

Railroad crews were at the scene in Stillwater County, near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles (about 64 kilometers) west of Billings. The area is in a sparsely populated section of the Yellowstone River Valley, surrounded by ranch and farmland. The river there flows away from Yellowstone National Park, which is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) southwest.

“We are committed to addressing any potential impacts to the area as a result of this incident and working to understand the reasons behind the accident,” Garland said.

The bridge collapse also took out a fiber-optic cable providing internet service to many customers in the state, the high-speed provider Global Net said. “This is the major fiber route ... through Montana,” a recording on the company’s phone line said Saturday. “This is affecting all Global Net customers. Connectivity will either be down or extremely slow.”

In neighboring Yellowstone County, officials said they instituted emergency measures at water treatment plants due to the “potential hazmat spill” and asked residents to conserve water.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The river was swollen with recent heavy rains, but it’s unclear whether that was a factor. The Yellowstone saw record flooding in 2022 that caused extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana. Robert Bea, a retired engineering professor at the University of California Berkeley who has analyzed the causes of hundreds of major disasters, said repeated years of heavy river flows provided a clue to the possible cause.

“The high water flow translates to high forces acting directly on the pier and, importantly, on the river bottom,” Bea said. “You can have erosion or scour that removes support from the foundation. High forces translate to a high likelihood of a structural or foundation failure that could act as a trigger to initiate the accident.”

An old highway bridge that paralleled the railroad bridge — together, they were called the Twin Bridges — was removed in 2021 after the Montana Department of Transportation determined it was in imminent danger of falling. It wasn’t immediately clear when the railroad bridge was constructed or when it was last inspected. Bea said investigators would also want to look at whether there was wear or rust in bridge components as well as a record of maintenance, repair and inspections.

Federal Railroad Administration officials were at the scene working with local authorities. “As part of our investigation, we have requested and will thoroughly review a copy of recent bridge inspection reports from the owner for compliance with federal Bridge Safety Standards,” the agency said in a statement Saturday, noting that responsibility for inspections lies with bridge owners.

Kelly Hitchcock of the Columbus Water Users shut off the flow of river water into an irrigation ditch downstream from the collapsed bridge to prevent contents from the tank cars from reaching nearby farmland. The Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office called the group Saturday morning to warn it about the collapse, Hitchcock said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that sulfur is a common element used as a fertilizer as well as an insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide.

Author: Astha Singh

Biden reiterated that the friendship between America and India is among the most consequential among partnerships and has now turned out to be stronger.

President Biden asserted that US-India friendship among most consequential in the world | Image: AP/PTI

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit, President Joe Biden on Sunday reiterated that the friendship between America and India is among the most consequential partnerships globally and has now turned out to be stronger and more dynamic than ever. Responding to the US President, Prime Minister Modi affirmed the power of friendship between the two nations. In PM Modi's historic three-day State visit, India and America signed several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space, and trade with an aim to further elevate their partnership.

Biden says 'US-India friendship most consequential'

President Biden took to Twitter and shared a video showcasing glimpses of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit. "The friendship between the United States and India is among the most consequential in the world. And it's stronger, closer, and more dynamic than ever," he wrote.

In the video, the US President stated that he has long believed that ties between India and US will be one of the defining relationships as both nations' Constitutions are bound with the same phrase: "We the people". He added that both nations share democratic values and want people everywhere to have the opportunity to live in dignity. "This is a cornerstone of this essential partnership between India and the US. And that is why I know the friendship between our nations is only going to grow as we face the future together," he said.

In response to Biden's tweet, PM Modi asserted that the friendship between India and the US is a force for global good and will make the planet better as well as more sustainable. "I fully agree with you, POTUS, Joe Biden. The friendship between our countries is a force for global good. It will make the planet better and more sustainable. The ground covered in my recent visit will strengthen our bond even more," tweeted PM Modi.

I fully agree with you, @POTUS @JoeBiden! Friendship between our countries is a force of global good. It will make a planet better and more sustainable. The ground covered in my recent visit will strengthen our bond even more. 🇮🇳 🇺🇸 https://t.co/iEEhBIYG17 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023

PM Modi embarked on his visit to the US on June 20 and in New York, he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the ninth International Day of Yoga on June 21. A day later, he received a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Biden in Washington DC. The two leaders held a historic summit on Thursday, followed by Modi's address to the US Congress and a State dinner hosted at the White House by the Bidens in his honour.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.run/post/16304

Despite his active war-mongering and mass killing of civilians in the name of drone attacks against terror groups, Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

On Thursday (June 22), former US President Barack Obama courted controversy by virtue-signalling India about its ‘human rights’ record.

Obama, who has a notorious record as a potential war criminal, suggested that the Indian Prime Minister must be told by the Biden administration about protecting the ‘Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India.’ He also hinted at another ‘partition’ if India, under the Modi government, did not mend its ways.

The former US President made the contentious remarks during an interview with CNN news host Christiane Amanpour, just hours before PM Modi made his historic address at the joint session of the US Congress.

He said, “If President (Joe Biden) meets with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the protection of Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning.”

Barack Obama also claimed, “If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, then, part of the conversation would be that if you do not protect the rights of minorities, then there is a strong possibility that India at some point starts pulling apart…That would be contrary to the interests of India”

The former US President, who is now mouthing platitudes about protecting the interests of Muslims in India, has been single-handedly responsible for the death of 100s of innocent people in Muslim-majority countries.

Human rights record of ‘war monger’ Barack Obama

Barack Obama scripted history in 2008 by being the first African-American man to become the President of the United States. In 2016, he also created another record of being the only President to take the country to war during the entirety of his 8-year term.

As per a report by the ‘Bureau of Investigative Journalism’, Obama oversaw more drone strikes (54) in his first year than George W Bush did in his entire term. Prior to his Presidency, he would talk about ending ‘dumb wars’ but did the opposite when he came to power.

Barack Obama, who holds the distinction of being a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, reportedly launched airstrikes in at least seven Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Pakistan.

He sanctioned the use of a whopping 563 drone strikes and killed 3797 people in this process. In one instance, a CIA drone strike targeted a funeral in Pakistan, which led to the death of 41 civilians in Pakistan.

More than 89 civilians in the same country were killed by the Obama administration over the course of 128 targeted drone strikes. The US President was aware that the drone strikes were far from accurate and were increasingly leading to the death of civilians.

But this did not stop him from continuing with such attacks in Somalia (2010) and Yemen (2011). Reportedly, 21 children and 12 women (five of them being pregnant)were killed by the Obama administration’s first strike in Yemen, with the aim of targeting Al-Qaeda.

It also came to light that in 2016 alone, the US government under Obama carried out at least 26,171 bombings, which translates to 72 bombings every day on civilians in other countries.

Mass civilian casualties were also reported in Afghanistan. An average of 582 people were killed annually in Afghanistan by the US, its allies and the Afghan government in Kabul between 2007 to 2016.

The Obama administration has also been accused of conducting ‘double-tap drone strikes’, which means that the site of a drone strike is attacked again. This is despite knowing the fact that such follow-up strikes lead to the death of first responders, which is against the guidelines laid down by the 1948 Geneva Conventions.

Obama administration warmed up to Muslim brotherhood, oversaw the rise of ISIS

During the tenure of Barack Obama, the US government warmed up to the radical Islamist outfit ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ in Egypt during the Arab Spring. It was a complete departure from the approach undertaken by previous US administrations.

According to author Hany Ghoraba, Barack Obama believed that he could separate the terror outfit ‘Al-Qaeda’ and Muslim Brotherhood. “Empowering the Muslim Brotherhood would, according to Obama, weaken Al-Qaeda in a decision that can be considered as one of the severest cases of political naiveté in modern times,” he noted.

“The core fault of the Obama administration was its adoption of a false rhetoric, presented for years by Islamist activists and later liberal Western politicians and pundits, that there is a distinction between the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda,” Ghoraba pointed out.

The Arab Spring led to significant political changes in several countries, including the ousting of long-standing autocratic leaders. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, namely, the Freedom and Justice Party, emerged as a major political force.

In 2011, the Obama administration thought it was a great idea to engage with the Muslim brotherhood-led- government, mistaking it to be a ‘new democratic force’ and looking past its radical Islamism, dangerous ideology and its mistreatment of religious minorities.

Later when protests erupted against the government in Eqypt, the Obama administration quickly took a U-turn and called for the removal of the Muslim Brotherhood-backed-Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. Documents now reveal that the US government funded anti-Morsi activities.

The Presidential tenure of Barack Obama was also marked by the rise of the dreaded terrorist organisation, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria aka ISIS.

One of the major contributing factors was the withdrawal of the US troops, failed negotiations with the Iraqi government and lack of residual US military presence in the country. The security vacuum left in Iraq gave opportunities for radical Islamist groups to expand.

Conclusion

Barack Obama has been at the helm of building secret drone bases in the Middle East and Africa and increasing the deployment of warships and troops in the Western Pacific and Eastern Europe.

He has been accused by his first three Defense Secretaries at the Pentagon of micro-manging the military from the White House. Through the killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Barack Obama ensured that Libya plunged into complete chaos.

Later, the oil-rich nation became a magnet for terrorist groups. Despite his active war-mongering and mass killing of civilians in the name of drone attacks against terror groups, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. With the left media acting as his PR agent, Obama has been able to keep up with the false image of being a ‘great ex-President.’

At the time of PM Modi’s visit to the US on the invite of the incumbent President Joe Biden, Barack Obama is pontificating the Modi administration about human rights and peddling the distorted narrative of ‘Muslims being in danger in India.’

Author: Swapnanil Chatterjee

"Being a small nation like Maldives, I sincerely value the support of the Indian NCC," said Brigadier General Wais Waheed, Commandant of Maldives Marine Corps.

Brigadier General Wais Waheed, Commandant of Maldives the Marine Corps, seeks Indian help to enchance Maldives defence capabilities (Image:PIB, MNDF)

Maldives has sought India’s help in training its cadets and for acquiring equipment for its forces. Maldives Marine Corps Commandant Brigadier General Wais Waheed on Thursday (June 22, 2023) requested assistance for the same from India’s Director General of the NCC, Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh.

"As a small country like the Maldives, I would greatly appreciate any assistance that the Indian NCC can provide us in terms of training, resources, and structural reforms," stated Brigadier General Waheed.

India to enhance Maldives defence and disaster response capabilities

• Maldives will send a proposal to India, requesting assistance in training and acquiring equipment. If India deems it acceptable, then it will sanction the necessary aid for Maldives.
• The Commandant of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) spoke about the potential for future collaboration between the two countries.
• Given that the Maldives is prone to natural disasters, Brig Gen Waheed expressed his desire to jointly train Maldivian cadets with India's support, particularly for natural disaster response and relief efforts, considering it as a force multiplier.

Military Cooperation between Maldives and India

According to the Maldivian Commandant, the training module implemented by the Indian Army is also employed by the defence forces of Maldives. The ongoing 12th edition of their annual joint exercise, Ekuverin, between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defense Force is taking place at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. This exercise focuses on counter-insurgency/terrorism operations, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations conducted under the UN mandate, spanning from June 11 to 24.

Personnel of the Maldives National Defence Force, along with the Indian Army, holding the DRDO Corner Shot Weapon System.(Credit: Press Information Bureau)

Another ongoing exercise is Operation Ekatha, an annual bilateral exercise between the navies of both countries. The sixth edition of this exercise is being held in the Maldives from June 4 to July 3. The naval exercise will see the participation of Maldivian Coast Guard and Indian divers from the Navy and Marine Commandos (MARCOS). The training regimen includes underwater demolition, close-quarter battle, diving operations, and VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure) operations.

Indian Navy personnel, along with the MNDF Coast Guard, are participating in Operation Ekatha (Credit:ANI)

How do India and Maldives benefit

Both exercises aim to enhance interoperability between the armed forces of both countries, focusing on sharing best practices, improving coordination, and fostering cooperation at the tactical level. A Ministry of Defence statement emphasised, "The defence cooperation between the two countries extends beyond joint exercises to assisting Maldives with defence training and equipment requirements." The statement from MoD implies that the interaction between the armed forces of both nations will not only strengthen friendly relations but also deepen economic, cultural, and military cooperation.

Author: Swapnanil Chatterjee

The agreement involves the potential joint production of GE Aerospace's F414 engines in India, supporting the IAF's LCA Tejas MK2.

General Electric (GE) Aerospace has signed a memorrandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The agreement involves potential joint production of GE Aerospace's F414 engines in India, supporting the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 program.

This partnership strengthens defence collaboration between the US and India, aligning with President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of closer coordination. This is a major milestone amid PM Modi's historic trip to the US. GE Aerospace has a long-standing presence in India and aims to create a family of products, including the F404 engine, and collaborate on the development of the AMCA program and other future programs. Over 1,600 F414 engines have been delivered globally.

Author: Eashaan Dhillon

Frank Kendall gave the opening address and said Indo-US ties are growing, & asserted there was enormous potential for startups of both nations to collaborate.

The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem was launched at an event in Washington DC, US, on Wednesday, June 21. The INDUS-X event was co-organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence. It was hosted by the US-India Business Council.

A reception for Indian and US government representatives, defence startups, think tanks, incubators, investors, industries, and other stakeholders was organised on June 20. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti gave the keynote address during the reception and said that due to their shared diplomatic ideals, similar political views, and strong inter-ethnic ties, India and the United States have a strong worldwide strategic alliance that spans practically all facets of human effort, and strong strategic, economic, and military links exist between the two nations. The US and India are collaborating to advance harmony and peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

At #INDUSX being hosted at @USChamber, USIBC hosted a substantive discussion on procurement, export controls, and industrial security with government, industry, and academia.

About the Indo-US INDUS X Event

US Secretary of Air Force Frank Kendall, who gave the opening keynote address, said that the India-US partnership is growing exponentially. He emphasised that there was enormous potential for startups of both nations to collaborate in deep tech innovations, especially in the Space and Artificial Intelligence domain (AI).

Anurag Bajpai, Joint Secretary (Defence Industries Promotion), MoD, who led the Indian delegation in the two-day INDUS-X event, in his welcome remarks on ''Investing in the future of India-US defence relations'', hailed the launch of iCET as a landmark event in Indo-US defence ties. As the leaders of the biggest and oldest democracies in the world gather in Washington, he asserted that this is an opportune moment. The idea for a defence innovation bridge is a part of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies unveiled by the national security advisors Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan in January and the Pentagon said that through INDUS-X, the ties will be strengthened between defence industrial ecosystem to make them more innovative, accessible and resilient.

In addition, the Pentagon also said that both Department of Defence and the Ministry of Defence along with external stakeholders will explore joint challenges for India and US startups that leverage common dual use cases for both the countries. An unprecedented joint presentation of cutting-edge technologies from startups in the US and India was presented during the event. The event also saw a first-of-its-kind joint showcasing of innovative technologies by Indian and American startups. Fifteen Indian and 10 US startups from multiple domains such as maritime, AI, autonomous systems and space showcased their technologies to Indian and US stakeholders.

Senior American officials watched the exhibition, including Congressman RO Khanna, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and Radha Iyengar Plumb, deputy undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment for the US Department of Defence. Khanna serves on the House Armed Services Committee. Two panel discussions and two roundtables were held, focussing on deepening collaborations across various domains including export control regulations. INDUS-X will also enhance connectivity between American and Indian defence startups to explore joint opportunities in high-tech defence innovation, research and development, and strengthen bilateral trade relationships and defence establishment linkages.

Also, a group of private stakeholders will engage investors to set up a joint innovation fund, while both governments will explore a public-private partnership model for funding deep tech defence startups. Both India and US also intend to explore standardising certification for technologies developed by defence innovation ecosystems of both countries, to accelerate their absorption. The statement by Pentagon says that the area of focus here will include Quality Assurance parameters, certification standards, and Program success memoranda.

“India Global Forum’s annual UK-India Week is a highly anticipated fixture in the bilateral calendar of our two great nations,” said UK PM Rishi Sunak.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said he is confident that the India-UK partnership will be a "defining one for our times", as he extended support to the upcoming UK-India Week. Sunak, then UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, was a special guest at the UK-India Awards during last year’s summit when he first spoke about his own Indian heritage and commitment to British Indian values.

In a statement from Downing Street, the 43-year-old leader described the annual event as a catalyst for forging new trade ties and long-term collaborations. “India Global Forum’s annual UK-India Week is a highly anticipated fixture in the bilateral calendar of our two great nations,” said Sunak.

“It is a catalyst for forging new trade ties, lasting collaborations, and a better future for our peoples. I'm confident this partnership will be a defining one for our times,” he said.

UK-India Week 2023 kick-starts with a Young Leaders Forum at the Nehru Centre in London on Saturday and will cover a full spectrum of bilateral issues, from tech and innovation to infrastructure and sustainability at events in London and Windsor. This year marks the fifth edition of the summit and UK-India Awards, which comes just days after the UK government issued a joint outcome statement at the conclusion of the tenth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India.

“Technical discussions were held across 10 policy areas over 50 separate sessions. They included detailed draft treaty text discussions in these policy areas,” reads a statement from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) issued earlier this week.

India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA since January last year, with a goal towards a comprehensive pact that is expected to significantly enhance the bilateral trading relationship, worth an estimated GBP 34 billion in 2022. The 11th round is now scheduled to take place next month, soon after UK-India Week next week.

“Given the geopolitical upheaval and economic turbulence around the world, I believe it is more important now than ever before that the UK and India forge closer and deeper ties. I am, therefore, grateful to Prime Minister Sunak for recognising the role that IGF is playing in bringing our two great democracies closer to unlocking the true potential of the partnership,” said IGF Founder Professor Manoj Ladwa. The six-day series of events will open with an address by Opposition Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer and will also involve interventions by UK Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and India’s Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy R.K. Singh.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.run/post/10106

Author: Swapnanil Chatterjee

India gifts missile warship INS Kirpan to Vietnam, bolstering maritime security & strategic partnership amid Chinese concerns.

India has gifted an indigenously-built missile warship, INS Kirpan, to its strategic partner Vietnam with the aim of strengthening its reach in the South China Sea. The announcement came after India's Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, held a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Gang, in the national capital on June 9.

3 Things You Need to Know about Gifting the Kirpan

• The gift of INS Kirpan, an in-service missile corvette, will enhance the Vietnamese People's Navy.
• Vietnam is a vital partner in India's Act East policy, and the gift of Kirpan strengthens this alliance.
• During the visit, Ministers discussed defence cooperation, research, and joint production.

Enhanced maritime security with INS Kirpan

The missile corvette will become the second largest in Vietnam's arsenal and provide a cost-effective solution for Vietnam's coastal defence and patrol operations. With its smaller crew requirements and efficient operation in littoral waters, INS Kirpan offers an efficient and affordable option. It has been designed with multi-purpose capabilities, including anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and patrol missions. This versatility allows the Vietnamese Navy to effectively address a wide range of maritime security challenges. Given Vietnam's significant coastal territory, these corvettes can conduct surveillance, enforce maritime law, and respond effectively to threats in nearshore areas. Additionally, acquiring corvettes with capable armament and sensors contributes to regional stability, enabling Vietnam to maintain a credible defence posture and engage in cooperative maritime security efforts with neighbouring countries, fostering stability and cooperation in the region.

Deepening mutual cooperation for further growth

This gesture also signifies the deepening alliance between Vietnam and India, which has been steadily growing over the past decade. The Ministry of Defense's official release stated, "Both Ministers identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry cooperation, maritime security, and multinational cooperation." The officials also discussed defence research and joint production during the Vietnamese defence minister's visit to the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) headquarters.”

Kirpan Strengthens India's 'Look East' Policy

During General Phan Van Gang's visit to India, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony was held at the National War Memorial, where he paid homage to the fallen heroes. In the future, the collaboration can extend beyond defence equipment and encompass joint exercises, information sharing, and capacity building.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.run/post/9325

PM Modi will also hold discussions with President Biden on bettering trade and investment relations, besides forging closer ties in the technology domain comprising telecom, space and manufacturing.

Stepping up defence cooperation, India and the US are poised to unveil a roadmap for industries in the sector to partner closely in co-production, co-development and maintaining supply change during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US beginning June 21.

Prime Minister Modi, during his first state visit to the US, will also hold discussions with President Joe Biden on bettering trade and investment relations, besides forging closer ties in the technology domain comprising telecom, space and manufacturing.

Addressing a press conference here, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the prime minister will also be on a state visit to Egypt from June 24-25 at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which he is also scheduled to visit 11th Century mosque Al-Hakim, which was refurbished and renovated by the Bohra community.

The foreign secretary said the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap was expected to be one of the key outcomes of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US.

It essentially focuses on all aspects of defence co-production and co-development. It also talks about how defence industrial ecosystems of the two countries could cooperate much better, how the supply lines in the field of defence industry could also interface with each other much better," he said.

Kwatra described defence cooperation as a "key pillar" of India's relationship with the US.

"If you look at the complete matrix of the India-US defence partnership, it is very robust, very dynamic, it has all the significant elements that make it so important.

"We conduct a large number of bilateral military exercises – both bilateral as also regional in nature. Armed forces have staff-to-staff engagement. India is also the deployer of the US equipment and platforms. Some of them are used by India," he said.

Also top on the minds of Biden and Modi would be the challenges posed by the incidents such as the attempts to incite violence outside the Indian embassy in Washington.

“The underlying intent and the goal of such attacks is something which we are concerned (about) and we have shared those concerns very actively and very completely with the countries where such organisations function,” Kwatra said.

Modi will begin the visit to the US from New York, where he will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters and meet prominent personalities and leaders on June 21.

He will travel to Washington the same day and join President Biden and first lady Jill Biden for a private engagement.

Prime Minister Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, which will be followed by a formal bilateral meeting with Biden.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will also host a state dinner in honour of Modi on Thursday evening.

On Friday, the prime minister will interact with select Chief Executive Officers of leading companies. Later, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken will host a state luncheon.

Prime Minister Modi will also address the Indian-American community at the Reagan Centre.

"It is a milestone in our relationship. It is a very significant visit, a very important visit, a visit on which there is a genuine, widespread and deep interest in the US," Kwatra said, adding that Modi has visited the US six times since 2014.

On planned protests against Modi's visit to the US, Kwatra said India viewed the visit from a very different frame of reference.

“We sense deep and widespread positive interest in the US on the visit. We are aware, evidence based, of the positive things we have done in the relationship.

"We are determined and targeted to move to the new domains of strategic partnership, which are crucial not just for partnership between our two societies, two countries, two systems, which would also be net positive contributors to developments in the world,” Kwatra said.

He said the extent of enthusiasm across the various cross-section of the US system was palpable.

“You can see it well spread in the pages of the media and determine what is the frame of reference in which the two systems are looking at the relationship,” Kwatra said.

On the situation in Myanmar, Kwatra said India’s position on Myanmar has always been clear and the US side was appreciative of it.

“Let us not forget we have a large border with Myanmar. Myanmar is our neighbour. The kind of framework in which we deal with our relationship in Myanmar is very different.

"We have continued with our extensive humanitarian assistance and development cooperation with Myanmar, even when the times that Myanmar was troubled, so to speak,” the foreign secretary said.

“Being a neighbour, we have always tried, we have wished and we make an effort in that direction so that the country remains peaceful and stable,” Kwatra said.

Author: Kalpit A Mankikar

Beijing hopes expansion in the American backyard will make dominoes fall

Media reports of a pact between China and Cuba to establish a facility on the island barely off the American coast to collect electronic intelligence and keep tabs on maritime activity has emerged as a new challenge to the United States (US) in its backyard. Reports suggest that the snooping facility in Cuba would enable China to spy on communication throughout America’s southeast part, which is home to several military establishments.

Monroe Doctrine to Mao Doctrine

The Biden administration’s initial flip-flop on the issue of the Cuban spy base amidst the Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China for parleys, which seek to stabilise fraught relations, have churned domestic politics. Initially, the White House and Pentagon termed the news reports as inaccurate, but later the Biden administration portrayed the Chinese spy base as a “legacy issue” from the Trump era since the base had been in operation since 2019 and that the development had been discussed during the presidential transition. At a time when there is a bipartisan consensus in the US polity on the issue of China, the Republicans are not pleased with their rivals trying to drive home a point that the Grand Old Party was lax on the national security front. Congressman Mike Gallagher, chairperson of the House Committee on the Communist Party of China (CPC), has assessed the development as a bid by the CPC to alter the “Monroe doctrine into the Mao doctrine”, linking the flip-flops over the Cuban spy base with the recent overtures by the Biden administration to China.

The Biden administration’s initial flip-flop on the issue of the Cuban spy base amidst the Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China for parleys, which seek to stabilise fraught relations, have churned domestic politics.

The Cuban-Chinese spy station row comes amid speculation of a Sino-US thaw. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is slated to travel to Beijing and London between 16-21 June. In China, Blinken’s agenda prominently features ways to manage relations with the People’s Republic of China and issues related to bilateral cooperation, which had come to an end since the US spy balloon incident. Gallagher has also posited that China’s spy station in Cuba, and Chinese involvement with governments in the region constituted an important challenge to the American sphere of influence. Naturally, these issues would gain traction as the US heads towards the 2024 presidential elections. However, the controversy comes at a time when there is increased engagement between governments in Central and South America and the People’s Republic.

Another Castro headache for America

Honduras, which established formal relations with China in March 2023, became the latest addition in a string of nations to sever diplomatic connections with Taiwan. And for this switch, Beijing pulled out all the stops for the state visit of Xiomara Castro, the first woman President of the Central American nation. Honduras is among the latest Central American nation to hop on to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) bandwagon. On 12 June, the two nations inked 19 bilateral cooperation agreements, including one on the joint building of the BRI. Sino-Honduran cooperation will cover fields like farming, economic and trade issues, education, science and technology, and culture. The China-Honduras business session on the sidelines of the Castro visit saw the participation of 200 delegates from both nations. Castro sought admittance to the New Development Bank, which has been promoted by the BRICS grouping, after visiting the financial institution’s headquarters in Shanghai. Significantly, she also visited a facility operated by Chinese telecom major, Huawei. Although the two nations formalised relations in March 2023, their negotiations on a free-trade agreement are near fruition. The pact will make it easy for Honduran products to access the Chinese market, and facilitate Chinese companies to invest in sensitive sectors like infrastructure, energy, and telecommunications. At a time when nations like India and the US have been trying to highlight China’s strategy of entrapping small states through white-elephant projects in infrastructure, Xi Jinping’s signature initiative seems to have received strong endorsement in America’s backyard. Honduran Minister of Economic Development Fredis Cerrato rebutting the “debt trap” narrative, saying that BRI would improve people’s living conditions, is a propaganda coup by Beijing in Washington’s backyard.

At a time when nations like India and the US have been trying to highlight China’s strategy of entrapping small states through white-elephant projects in infrastructure, Xi Jinping’s signature initiative seems to have received strong endorsement in America’s backyard.

Dominoes fall

The Monroe Doctrine, one of the principal foreign policy tenets espoused by former US President James Monroe, forbade foreign intervention in the Western Hemisphere. It cemented the notion that the region was effectively in the American sphere of influence. America has forcefully intervened in the past to thwart foreign powers from spreading their influence in its backyard in the past. At the height of Cold War 1.0 in the 1960s, Cuba had been at the centre of great power contestation. Shortly after Fidel Castro deposed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista and established a Communist beachhead off the American coast in the late 1950s, a Democrat John F Kennedy administration backed an attempt by émigrés to grab power, which was known as the Bay of Pigs incident. The US and the Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war after the latter positioned nuclear-capable missiles in Cuba, forcing a naval blockade of the island known as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. In the original Cold War, there was a notion of the ‘domino theory’ that nations neighbouring a state where a communist regime had been installed would quickly fall like dominoes.

Today, we are witnessing a reverse-domino effect in Cold War 2.0, with nations in America’s backyard falling to China’s economic statecraft. According to Beijing’s strategists, Honduras may veritably be the domino in the Americas with respect to China’s inroads in the region. Recently, Argentina and China signed an agreement on promoting BRI, improving cooperation in areas like infrastructure, energy, and trade. Zhou Zhiwei from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences expressed hope that as BRI makes inroads, other nations in the region like Brazil and Colombia fall like dominoes to China’s juggernaut. Above all the Cuba and Honduras case studies serve as a pointer to the fact that if the US supports Taiwan, then China can make inroads in America’s turf. This is evidenced by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s assertion in a recent call with Blinken that the US must respect China’s position on Taiwan and stop undermining its sovereignty.

Zhou Zhiwei from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences expressed hope that as BRI makes inroads, other nations in the region like Brazil and Colombia fall like dominoes to China’s juggernaut.

Cuba is a major inflection point in both Cold Wars as proxy conflicts are usually fought in countries away from the superpowers. The Soviet Cuban retreat signified its overreach, and now as the CPC has chosen to take the fight to America’s doorstep, all eyes will be on how it goes ahead. Again, in a sensitive political year as the US heads for election, the American electorate will be scrutinising the responses of the past and current Democrat administrations to gauge how they fared on the Monroe metric. In Asia, too, nations will closely follow Blinken’s Beijing sojourn, and how America deals with the dragon rampaging in its backyard to assess its primacy and resolve in taking on the China challenge.

Author: Prof (Dr) DK Pandey

Air Defender 2023 is a massive NATO exercise set to take place from June 12 to June 23, 2023. This is the most extensive live-flying exercise the German Armed Forces – Bundeswehr has ever conducted in more than four decades. In the airspace of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, approximately 250 aircraft of a number of nations will train for their Air Forces’ combined reaction capacity in a crisis.

Germany hopes to project a more assertive military stance by taking the lead role in the wargames, which were initially planned in 2018 in response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea four years earlier. Germany planned to serve as a ‘Multinational Air Group’ (MAG) framework country in 2018. The objective was to train and equip fully operational, large-scale aviation groups in tandem with NATO partners. The strategy called for completing a challenging MAG Exercise (MAGEX) session. This strategy developed the first core idea for a successful aerial exercise.

“Air Defender 23” is the NATO exercise that will include the largest deployment of air assets in the organization’s history. This exercise is a perfect example of the friendship among the NATO continents. With up to 10,000 participants from 25 nations and 250 aircraft, the German Air Force will oversee the air operations as part of the training exercise in European airspace. There will be 23 different types of aircraft participating in Air Defender 23, including F-35s from the United States and the Netherlands, AWACS surveillance planes from NATO and, for the first time, a Japanese Air Force transport plane. Since Operation Desert Storm in 1991 in Iraq, this will be the most extensive US Air National Guard (ANG) aircraft deployment.

Objectives

Air Defender 23 is a multinational exercise organised by NATO to strengthen the alliance and enhance cooperation among its troops. These activities will bolster the alliance’s capacity for global operations. NATO air forces will have to coordinate and work in unison to ensure “flight safety’’, which is a goal that poses significant operational challenges.

In a military crisis, the participating nations want to analyse their air forces’ response and cooperation. At Air Defender 23, participants will be able to evaluate their unified air response and work together to create standard operating procedures (SOPs) for use in times of crisis.

Participants

Various countries as far away as Japan, together with about 250 military aircraft (including B1 strategic bombers, modern F-35 jet fighters, and deadly long-range drones) are scheduled to perform 2000 missions.

The participating Air Forces are primarily from the NATO countries which include the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.

“Strength is the best deterrence. There is more to Air Defender 2023 than just deterrence.” Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, the head of the Air National Guard (ANG), stated. “The capacity and credibility of the forces to join together are being shown,” he claimed. The United States ANG has mobilised 100 planes and 2600 soldiers from 42 states. The war exercises will include areas as far-flung as the Baltic and Black Sea regions, which border Russia and as close as the United States and Germany.

Germany is in the driver’s seat and serving as the operations centre. The German Air Force, as the host country’s air force, has assigned 64 aircraft to the exercise; the following planes will take turns exercising above Germany alongside planes from other countries.

• German Eurofighters: 30
• German Tornados: 16
• German A400Ms: 05
• German A330: 03 (AARs for refuelling)
• German LJ35: 02
• German A-4: 02
• German light support helicopters (LUH) 145: 04

Exercise Settings

Air Forces participating in the Exercise will go through drills designed to replicate what might happen in a NATO Article 5 scenario—the collective defence of Alliance territory. As in the baseline scenario, if the enemy takes Rostock, NATO must defend the city under Article 5. The solution is to retake the port and other critical infrastructure, fortify city centres, and launch offensives. NATO’s eastern flank will be practising over Lithuania, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Europe’s air defences have an air defence gap, and the Allied air forces will train to fill it. Jet fighters will defend against Russian-simulated missile and drone attacks.

Fighter planes from the Luftwaffe and other countries will be stationed at six German locations throughout the Exercise. Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Brandenburg, Berlin, and Saxony are the other six locations.

Fighter planes and other aircraft will presumably fly over Germany Monday to Friday, dividing the country into three flight corridors—north, east, and south. On weekends, there won’t be any exercise sessions. The airspace is restricted to military usage only during designated times for each flight corridor to ensure flight safety. As a result, certain passenger flights within and between European countries may be impacted by this restriction. The exercise will use altitudes between flight level 100 (about 2,900 metres) and flight level 660 (roughly 18,470 metres), with the exact height being determined by local conditions.

Contemporary air warfare requires high flexibility and adaptability to cope with various challenges. To effectively deploy ground troops, “air sovereignty” is necessary. Air sovereignty relies heavily on multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA). MRCAs will be used in various combat missions in Air Defender 23. MRCAs will be tasked with a wide range of duties throughout the spectrum of military operations. Combat police, air interdiction, counterattack strike, close air support, reconnaissance, and surveillance are all examples of these roles.

All the air forces in the NATO alliance will participate in this exercise to test and revalidate their combined operations and interoperability in realistic circumstances. “With Air Defender 2023, I intend to demonstrate determined Allied Air Power,” declared Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of Staff of the German Air Force. The Luftwaffe, the USAF and our European partners will deliver a clear and strong message of credible deterrence in the air.”

Geopolitical Implications

The timing and geographical region of operations of NATO’s most extensive air exercise, Air Defender 23 is strategically planned. Within this window, a “counter-offensive” by the Ukrainians is possible. Ukraine has made evident that one of its key objectives is reclaiming all the land Russia took over in 2014. This would lead to returning to the border geometries in place as in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Russia is preparing for all possible outcomes which can emanate from Air Defender 2023 military exercises, which NATO is conducting. Russia has deployed 3,000 tanks it had been keeping as reserve. Locations include Murmansk, St. Petersburg, Belgorod, etc., in Russia.

The Indo-Pacific area is relevant to the exercise as well. By practicing rapid deployment in Europe and other regions, allied air forces can better safeguard NATO partners like South Korea and Japan. Climate change is a primary concern for environmentalists. Germans should prepare for noise, millions of litres of gasoline pollution, and airline cancellations and delays despite official claims to the contrary. Das Erste has reported concerns.

Conclusion

Air Defender-23 is a multinational air operation exercise that will take place in Europe. It would be the greatest air warfare operations exercise conducted by NATO since the organization’s inception. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of the previous year caused concern among the members of NATO and as a result, attempts to extend and strengthen the military alliance have escalated. Even though the exercise had been planned for years, it is slated to bring all NATO air forces to a common platform this year. The purpose of the exercise is to display NATO’s air power while also demonstrating the adaptability and responsiveness of Air Forces as first responders. Nevertheless, any escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict will harm the Global economy, food, and energy needs.

Author: Pavithran Rajan

In a much-needed policy initiative, the Government of India decided to redeploy military attaches to countries where they can help increase domestic defence exports. This will reduce the number of military officers stationed in countries where the country traditionally imports military equipment. Officials say the officers will focus on Africa, South-East Asia and the Middle East, where they will promote products from India’s private and public sectors. Arms exports play a crucial role in nations’ economic growth, technological advancement, and strategic relationships worldwide.

To facilitate successful defence exports, many governments leverage the expertise of both Defence attaches and intelligence agencies. While Defence attaches serve as ambassadors, forging relationships and promoting defence cooperation, intelligence agencies provide critical insights and risk assessments. However, the roles of Defence attaches and intelligence agencies in enabling defence exports and their contribution to fostering an innovation-based economy have long been ignored by India. Now that the decision to be AtmaNirbhar in its weapon platforms is taken, the role of Defence Attaches to help market them is thenext logical step . For this to be a coherent policy initiative, our external intelligence agency also needs to be tasked to assist the Defence Attaches. Selling armaments abroad is a highly competitive endeavour; this will require a cultural reorientation of both the military officers and our intelligence officials, wherein human resource management must incorporate deputation to the Indian industry as a viable career path.

Defence attaches are vital links between their home country’s defence industries and host nations. First, they help establish and nurture relationships with key officials, military personnel, and defence industry representatives in host countries. These connections foster trust, enhance understanding, and promote defence cooperation, paving the way for defence exports. Second, they help conduct extensive market research in host countries, identifying defence requirements, procurement plans, and potential export opportunities. Third, by analysing local market dynamics, they help defence exporters understand customer needs, adapt products to specific requirements, and align with local industry capabilities, driving innovation in the defence sector.

Defence attaches organise and participate in defence exhibitions, trade shows, and seminars, providing platforms to showcase their home country’s defence capabilities. As a result, they generate awareness, attract investments, and catalyse innovation within their home defence industries by demonstrating cutting-edge technologies and engaging with potential customers. Defence attaches bring their expertise and knowledge of local requirements to facilitate negotiations and secure defence contracts. They can assist defence exporters in navigating procurement processes, understanding local regulations, and addressing cultural nuances. Their presence and support enhance trust and contribute to successful export deals.

The Defence attaches play a crucial role in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and fostering technology transfer. They can identify opportunities for collaboration between SMEs from their home country and host nations, facilitating partnerships, joint ventures, and technology-sharing agreements. This collaboration promotes innovation, stimulates economic growth, and creates an ecosystem favourable for an innovation-driven defence industry.

Professional intelligence agencies, on the other hand, help with vast resources and networks to gather valuable information on global defence markets. They comprehensively analyse potential export markets, identifying demand, key players and emerging trends. This market intelligence is a necessary aid for defence exporters in making informed decisions, tailoring their products to meet market requirements, and seizing export opportunities. One of the critical roles of intelligence agencies is assessing and mitigating risks associated with defence exports. They evaluate potential customers, partners, and intermediaries, ensuring compliance with export control regulations and safeguarding national security interests. In addition, intelligence agencies can help defence exporters navigate through complex geopolitical environments and proliferation threats while protecting sensitive technologies by providing thorough risk assessments.

Intelligence agencies play a vital role in protecting defence exports from espionage, theft, and unauthorised access. They assist in designing robust security protocols, encryption strategies, and counterintelligence measures to prevent technology leakage and safeguard intellectual property. In addition, through collaboration with defence exporters, intelligence agencies ensure the secure transfer of sensitive defence technologies to trusted partners. Intelligence agencies can provide strategic assessments and policy guidance to defence exporters and policymakers by analysing geopolitical landscapes and emerging security challenges. They help align defence export strategies with national security objectives and international obligations, ensuring that exports contribute to global stability while protecting national interests.

Intelligence agencies and defence attaches can collaborate to enhance market intelligence capabilities. Sharing information and analysis creates a more comprehensive understanding of global defence markets. This collaborative approach enables defence exporters to access a broader data pool, identify emerging trends, and capitalise on new market opportunities. In addition, the synergy between intelligence agencies and Defence attaches strengthens their ability to support defence exports and fosters an environment encouraging innovation.

Intelligence agencies’ insights on geopolitical landscapes and security challenges can inform and augment Defence Attaches’ diplomatic efforts. Armed with this intelligence, defence attaches can engage in targeted defence diplomacy, strategically promoting defence exports and fostering innovation. In addition, they can leverage intelligence assessments to identify potential partner countries, engage in dialogue on defence collaboration, and facilitate technology transfer agreements. This collaboration between intelligence agencies and Defence attaches enhances the effectiveness of defence diplomacy in driving innovation and economic growth.

Modern intelligence agencies should possess extensive knowledge and expertise in emerging technologies and global defence industry trends. By sharing this information with Defence attaches, they enable a proactive approach to identifying technological trends and opportunities for defence exports. Defence attaches can then engage with host nations, highlighting their home country’s technical strengths, promoting collaboration, and facilitating the transfer of advanced defence technologies. This proactive approach encourages innovation, strengthens defence industrial bases, and positions defence exporters at the forefront of technological advancements. In addition, intelligence agencies’ role in risk assessment and mitigation aligns with the responsibilities of Defence attaches. By collaborating closely, they can ensure comprehensive risk management strategies in defence exports. Intelligence agencies provide valuable insights on potential threats and risks, helping defence attaches assess the reliability and trustworthiness of prospective customers and partners. This collaborative approach helps safeguard sensitive technologies, protect national security interests, and maintain export control compliance, fostering an environment of trust and reliability in defence exports.

Intelligence agencies can also support Defence attaches in identifying opportunities for research and development (R&D) cooperation. By assessing host nations’ R&D landscape and technological capabilities, intelligence agencies can provide insights into areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration. Defence attaches can then facilitate partnerships between defence research institutions, universities, and industries, enabling technology exchange, joint projects, and innovation-driven defence exports.

In conclusion, the synergy between intelligence agencies and Defence attaches is pivotal in enabling defence exports and nurturing an innovation economy. Enabling this will require a reorientation of our policy and human resource framework. Indian officialdom still has to understand and internalise that private companies that create IPR are a valuable natural resource that needs to be treasured and guarded. Fostering an innovative economy is essential to generate employment and economic growth and is vital to ensure national security. The traditional understanding of national security linked to only guarding territorial integrity needs to be updated and will require a relook. New policy initiatives must be sensitive to unconventional ideas that break from tradition or challenge our existing ways of thinking and push us out of our psychological comfort zone. Generally, we don’t like things that challenge our habitual ways of working. By nature, people and institutions are highly risk averse, and the political leadership will have to closely monitor and empower the military and intelligence leadership to make these policies successful. Missteps and failures will be part of this change. Fostering an environment that can withstand failure and risk-taking is central to AtmaNirbhar.

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United States for a state visit this week, officials in both countries expressed optimism about a trip that is being billed as a milestone in relations between the two countries.

NEW DELHI, June 15 (Reuters) - India's defence ministry has approved the procurement of U.S.-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources told Reuters on Thursday.

India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion, one of the sources said. India’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.