WASHINGTON: The US Senate has approved a move to enhance military co-operation with India to develop threat analysis, military doctrine, force planning, logistical support and intelligence collection and analysis.
The amendment titled 'To authorise military-to-military exchanges with India', was unanimously agreed in the Senate by a voice vote as part of the National Defence Authorisation Act, which was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan support of 85-13 votes. The amendment was moved by Senator John Sullivan, and co-sponsored by Senator John Corny and Mark Warner along with Senator Mark Kirk. The bill asks the Secretary of Defence to ensure that the Indo-US co-operation for developing threat analysis, military doctrine, force planning, logistical support, intelligence collection and analysis, tactics, techniques and procedures, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The passed legislation says the Defence Secretary may take "appropriate actions" to ensure that exchanges take place between senior military officers and senior civilian defence officials of the Indian and US governments. It also asked the Defence Secretary to ensure significant enhancement of joint military operations, including maritime security, counter-piracy, counter-terror cooperation, and domain awareness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
