The US has discussed a potential missile defence collaboration with India , a top Pentagon official has said, underlining that America wants to build a "much deeper and broader relationship" with the country.Under Secretary of Defence for Policy John Rood, however, said that it is early to determine how far India, which already has substantial domestic missile defence capabilities, will go regarding the defence collaboration. "We have talked to the Indians about missile defence as potentially an area as well to collaborate on. "The Indians have substantial capabilities domestically of their own and they've done some development of missile defences. It has already recognised India as a "major defence partner", a status that which commits the US to facilitate technology sharing with India.In 2018, the US granted India Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) status. India is the only South Asian country to get STA1 status and third Asian country after Japan and South Korea.

Source: Economic Times February 08, 2019 06:56 UTC