Tech, space basis of stronger India-US future ties, says EAM Jaishankar

India-US relationship in the future will be heavily based on technology, with space and defense sector being two crucial components, said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar at the opening of the US Consulate in Bengaluru on Jan 17.

Jaishankar said the domain of space was just beginning to open up and there were many more possibilities. He further noted that defense too was a crucial area.

“In the technology, space, and defense sectors, there is a case for stronger US presence and leveraging the capabilities of Bengaluru and Karnataka,” he stated.

The EAM said two decades ago, there were virtually no American weapons in the Indian inventory and little defense collaboration. Today, India flies the US-origin special operation planes such as the C-17, C-130J, Boeing P8I; and the Chinook and Apache helicopters.

Jaishankar further said education and research would be the driver of India-US relations.

“As the new education policy opens vistas, I hope to see collaborative campuses, exchange of students, and a stronger American presence in the education sector in this region,” he added.

“Besides, trusted supply chains will become key to strategic partnerships amid transformation in the industry. I see a great future for India and the US in this area as well,” Jaishankar said.

He said the absence of an American consulate in Bengaluru was a gap in the relationship between the two nations. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted the need for a consulate in Bengaluru.

The EAM said, “Its formal opening is another sign that we are overcoming the historic hesitations that marked the India-US ties.” Although the Minister did not point it out, the reference stems from the Cold War era from 1945-91.

He went on to state that India would open a consulate in Los Angeles soon.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also attended the event.

Garcetti said India was now America’s second-largest mission in the world.

The US Embassy said the initiative to expand US presence in Bengaluru would broaden and deepen long-standing ties, diplomatic engagement, and strategic partnership in Karnataka. Home to nearly 700 US companies and tens of thousands of US citizens, the state is creating jobs for people in both the United States and India.

It is also the center for rapidly expanding collaboration in space. This was highlighted by the planned launch of the jointly developed NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite and a US mission to bring NASA-trained Indian astronauts to the International Space Station.