With a landmark nuclear pact between the United States and India stalled, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that the two nations would nonetheless strengthen their security ties as India looks to modernize its arsenal and embarks on an unprecedented level of defense cooperation with the United States.
During two days of meetings with Indian officials, Gates pressed the case of U.S. defense firms seeking multibillion-dollar contracts with New Delhi, including a $10 billion deal for 126 fighters to replace an aging fleet of Russian-built MiGs.
But beyond the economic benefits of Indian military modernization, U.S. officials believe that India could be an important stabilizing force in Asia and a crucial counterweight to China's regional ambitions.
A senior defense official traveling with Gates said the United States views it as essential to cement security relationships with other powers in Asia, "not in an aggressive sense, but certainly as a hedge."
NEW YORK TIMES
