Wednesday, June 29 2005 09:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: India and the United States have signed a "new framework for the US-India Defence relationship for the next ten years" which includes "new opportunities for technology transfer, collaboration, co-production and research and development".

The agreement, signed in Washington by visiting Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, defined the goals as strengthening "our countries" security, reinforce our strategic partnership and build greater understanding between our Defence establishments."

"Both sides agreed that US-India Defence relations are an important pillar of their transforming bilateral relationship," a statement said.

The framework stated that both India and the US were entering a new era, "transforming our relationships to reflect our common principles and shared national interests".

It said the Defence relationship would support and would be part of the broader US-India strategic partnership. It acknowledged that Defence between the two nations had advanced to "unprecedented levels of cooperation unimaginable" since 1995, when both countries had signed the 'Agreed Minute on Defence Relations'.

The two sides also agreed to expand collaboration relating to missile defence.

The framework, which said both countries shared security interests, envisaged the defence establishments of the two nations conducting joint and combined exercises and exchanges, collaborate in multinational operations when it is in their common interest, and strengthen the capabilities of militaries to promote security and defeat terrorism.

It added that the two sides will expand interaction with other nations in ways that promote regional and global peace and stability, and enhance capabilities to combat the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

The agreement, which also mentioned a strategic relationship, said the US and India "will work to conclude Defence transactions, not solely as ends in and of themselves, but as a means to strengthen our countries' security, reinforce our strategic partnership, achieve greater interaction between our armed forces, and build greater understanding between our Defence establishments."

In the context of our strategic relationship, expand two-way Defence trade between our countries, increasing opportunities for technology transfer, collaboration, co-production and research and development.

The framework also stressed increased cooperation in the areas of worldwide peacekeeping operations, Defence strategy, intelligence exchanges, military response to disaster situations and strategic-level discussions by senior leadership from the Defence Ministries of both countries.