Senate Committee asks Pentagon to work with India in cyber, space operation

Washington: Expressing concern over the growing gap between the overarching goals of the Indo-US defence ties, a powerful Senate Committee has asked the Pentagon to work with India in cyber and space operating domain.

"Looking ahead to the future of the US Major Defence Partnership with India, the committee encourages the Department to work closely with India in the cyber and space operating domains at appropriate strategic, operational and tactical levels," the Senate Armed Services Committee said in its report to the Senate as it passed the annual National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018.

"As a rising economic power and key security partner, it is the committee's judgement that India deserves a seat at the table as the US works with our other key allies and partners to increase resiliency, strengthen deterrence and secure superiority in both operating domains," said the Senate Armed



Services Committee in its voluminous report running into more than 600 pages.

Pleased to see progress in the US-India defence partnership, the report said, adding that the positive adjustment of US export controls for defence articles sold to India is in accordance with National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2017 that required an assessment regarding such an adjustment.

Furthermore, the US and India have continued to refine their annual Malabar naval exercise, which has benefited from the recent inclusion of Japan.

The Malabar exercise concluded in the Bay of Bengal on July 7. The committee supports the exercise's consistent focus on maritime patrol, reconnaissance scenarios, and anti-submarine warfare operations, the report said.

Chaired by Senator John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee plays a key role in shaping the defence and national security policy of the US.