During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Washington, India and the U.S. have signed two significant agreements to enhance their strategic partnership. The agreements include the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement on the Assignment of Liaison Officers.
On August 23, 2024, the two countries formalised these agreements, marking a pivotal step in their defence cooperation. The SOSA ensures that both nations will offer reciprocal priority support for each other’s defence-related goods and services. This arrangement aims to help both countries handle unexpected supply chain disruptions and meet their national security needs more effectively.
The signing took place as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh started his four-day visit to the U.S. on August 22, 2024. The Ministry of Defence of India announced the agreements through a social media post, highlighting the importance of these documents in bolstering the defence ties between the two nations.
Dr. Vic Ramdass, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Industrial Base Policy, signed the SOSA on behalf of the U.S., while Samir Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary and Director General of Acquisitions, signed on behalf of India.
This agreement is expected to strengthen the U.S.-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), promoting closer cooperation between the defence industrial bases of both countries.
Under the SOSA, the U.S. will offer assurances through its Defence Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), with program decisions made by the Department of Defence (DoD) and rating authorization by the Department of Commerce (DOC). In response, India will create a Code of Conduct for its industrial base, ensuring that Indian firms provide priority support to the U.S. when needed.
This new agreement places India among the U.S.'s 18 SOSA partners, including countries like Australia, Canada, and Israel. SOSA agreements are crucial for improving interoperability and managing supply chain challenges in peacetime, emergencies, and conflicts.
The U.S. Department of Defence described the SOSA as a key development in the U.S.-India defence partnership, aimed at advancing bilateral co-development and co-production initiatives.
The upcoming DTTI meeting this fall will further explore these cooperative opportunities, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations in the defence sector.
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