CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The United States and France also reaffirm support for their Mutual Defense Agreement and intend to expand their technical cooperation on a wide range of strategic risk reduction topics.

Detailed explanation-2: -Overview: India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a “global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.

Detailed explanation-3: -President Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in May 2022 to elevate and expand our strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of our two countries.

Detailed explanation-4: -In March it was announced that India and the U.S. will hold the 2+2 meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 11 between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Singh was expected to be in the U.S. from April 10-13.

Detailed explanation-5: -During his visit to France in May 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that France is “one of India’s strongest partners” with their partnership encompassing a number of critical sectors including nuclear, defense, and space cooperation.