Biden Administration Affirms Significance of U.S.-India Partnership: Arms Deal Underscores Close Ties

The Biden administration emphasized the significance of its partnership with India, considering it among the most consequential relationships, following the notification to Congress about the proposed sale of 31 armed drones to India at an estimated cost of nearly $4 billion. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the close collaboration between the two nations on vital priorities.

Expressing the U.S.’s appreciation for the outgoing Indian ambassador, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Miller acknowledged the ambassador’s role in reinforcing shared priorities, particularly India’s crucial contribution to fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s close working relationship with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, was emphasized, with engagements on urgent and important priorities. Miller noted the secretary’s visits to India and meetings with Jaishankar, highlighting the ongoing commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations.