New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar at the opening of the US Consulate in Bengaluru on January 17 said, “India-US relationship in the future will be heavily based on technology, with space and defence sector being two crucial components.”
Noting that defence was a crucial area, Jaishankar said the domain of space was just beginning to open up and there were many more possibilities. He further noted that defence too was a crucial area. “In the technology, space and defence sectors, there is a case for stronger US presence and leveraging the capabilities of Bengaluru and Karnataka,” he stated.
“Two decades ago, there were virtually no American weapons in the Indian inventory and little defence 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,” the EAM said. He 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.”
“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 added.
The absence of an American consulate in Bengaluru was a gap in the relationship between two nations, Jaishankar said. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted the need for a consulate in Bengaluru.
“Its formal opening is another sign that we are overcoming the historic hesitations that marked the India-US ties,” he stated. He went on to state that India would open a consulate in Los Angeles soon.
The event was also attended by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
“India was now America’s second largest mission in the world,” US Ambassador to India Garcetti said. 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.
The state is home to nearly 700 US companies and tens of thousands of US citizens and is creating jobs for people in both the United States and India. It is also the centre for rapidly expanding collaboration in space. This was highlighted by the planned launch of jointly developed NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite and a US mission to bring NASA-trained Indian astronauts to the International Space Station.
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