RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1963
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2019
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL DEFENCE AUTHORISATION ACT (NDAA)
1963. SHRI SANJAY SINGH:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the amendment proposed for the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) by the US Congressman Brad Sherman;
(b) its implications on current US-India relations; and
(c) the implications of this on India’s global standing?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) to (c) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Brad Sherman, introduced an amendment pertaining to India in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. This amendment proposes the sense of the Congress that
the U.S. should strengthen and enhance its major defence partnership with India, inter alia, to promote shared values and common interests, enhance civilian and military exchanges, facilitate information sharing and technology transfer. This amendment also
mandates the submission of a report by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the U.S. Congress regarding defence cooperation between India and the U.S. in the Western Indian Ocean.
The amendment was passed by the House of Representatives, and included in its version of the NDAA for FY 2020. The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate versions of the text of the NDAA for FY 2020 are currently being reconciled in a joint committee.
India and the U.S. have established a strategic partnership based on our shared values and common interests. As sovereign democracies and strategic partners, both countries are closely involved in global efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and security, and
have committed to work together on regional and global issues.
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