Us Elevates India’S Trade Status To Nato-Level Ally, Move To Boost Access To Defence Tech

The Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement is one of the three agreements that the US has with its closest military allies, and will allow installation of high-security US communication equipment on defence equipment being sold to India.

The United States on Monday elevated India’s status as a trading partner to equal that it has accorded largely to its Nato allies, mostly for the purposes of speeding up the sale of high-tech defence and non-defence products that are otherwise subjected to strict controls and licensing.

“We have granted to India Strategic Trade Authorization status STA-1 that’s (a) very important status under our export control regime and acknowledges US-India security and economic relationship,” said US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum.

The move, which will reduce the number of licences needed for US exports to India, means India can get easy access to the latest defence technologies.

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