Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended General Electric Company’s (GE) decision to manufacture fighter planes in India during his address to the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. He described this decision as a milestone for India’s defense sector, highlighting the growing cooperation between India and the US. PM Modi emphasized the convergence on global strategic issues and the cooperation for the ‘Make in India Make for the World’ initiative. The agreement between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines, including GE Aerospace’s F414 engines, for the Indian Air Force was announced. This agreement is a major milestone and strengthens defense cooperation between India and the US. The efforts to secure necessary export authorization for this joint production are underway. The MoU announcement coincided with PM Modi’s visit to the US and his bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden. During his address, PM Modi expressed gratitude to the Indian diaspora for their contributions to India’s progress and emphasized the belief and determination of the Indian people. He also acknowledged the swift organization of the Indian diaspora event by the US-India Community Foundation. The foundation engaged with the secret service and PM Modi’s security group to handle the logistical aspects. The event registration was quickly completed through word-of-mouth alone. Overall, PM Modi’s visit to the US and the GE Aerospace agreement symbolize the strengthening ties and collaborations in defense and manufacturing between India and the US.
