US President Barack Obama’s visit has raised hopes of a partnership on an equal footing between the two countries

The US President Barack Obama’s three-daylong visit to India, the longest ever to any country in his Presidential tenure, was a positive move against global terrorism and increased defence and security cooperation between India and the US. The President declared India-US alliance as “one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century”. Deals worth $10 billion (Rs 44,800 crore) including two profitable defence deals worth $5 billion (Rs 22,400 crore), which would help America battle the economic downturn, were unveiled.

America’s first citizen announced that the US would support India’s entry into the world’s most elite technology clubs including the Nuclear Suppliers Group. He also declared the lifting of sanctions against Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The removal of the sanctions against DRDO, as well as state-owned defence firm Bharat Dynamics from the “entities list” opened the door for cooperation in high-technology areas such as satellite development, missile defence, etc.

For the first time the US head of the state backed India’s demand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, though his subsequent statements made it clear that everything comes for a price and the cost this time would be the support to the US in its stand against Iran and Myanmar. The US President said, “In the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.”

Soon after President Barack Obama landed in Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, a White House statement declared that India and the US have reached agreements on two lucrative defence deals worth nearly $5 billion that will give employment to nearly 26,500 people in America. The report said that the Boeing Company and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are in the final stage of concluding a deal on purchase of 10 C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft. According to media reports, the IAF may order for another six C-17 after evaluating the performance of the 10 already ordered. With this, it is said that the IAF will be the owner of the second largest fleet of C-17 military transport aircraft in the world after the US. The statement also stated that India has selected General Electric Company for a contract to provide the Aeronautical Development Agency with 107 F414 engines to be installed on the light combat aircraft, Tejas. Nonetheless, all these deals were finalised ahead of the President’s arrival and came as no surprise. Many more job opportunities ahead. The Boeing C-17 military aircraft is powered by four Pratt & Whitney engines and it is expected that India would purchase approximately 45 engines. Good prospects for yet another US company. Boeing also declared SpiceJet’s order for 30 next generation Boeing 737-800 airplanes worth $2.7 billion Rs 12,000 crore). The deal will help the airline penetrate further into the low cost market.