US Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill in Congress on Thursday that proposes treating India similarly to key allies like Japan, Israel, Korea, and NATO members in terms of technology transfers. The bill aims to support India in responding to threats to its territorial integrity and to bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if it sponsors terrorism against India.
Rubio emphasized the need for the U.S. to support regional partners against China's aggressive expansion in the Indo-Pacific and to counter its tactics that undermine sovereignty. He highlighted the importance of standing by India and other nations in the region.
Despite the divided Congress and the short timeline of an election year, the bill might be reintroduced in the next Congress due to bipartisan support for the India-US relationship. The bill underscores the vital role of the US-India partnership in countering Chinese influence and aims to strengthen strategic, diplomatic, economic, and military ties with India.
If passed into law, the bill would set a policy to support India against territorial threats, provide necessary security assistance, and enhance cooperation in defense, civil space, technology, medicine, and economic investments. It would also offer India a limited exemption from CAATSA sanctions for Russian military equipment and facilitate quicker consideration of defense-related sales to India. Furthermore, it would grant India the same status as other key US allies regarding technology transfers, increase military cooperation, expedite excess defense articles to India, and expand military education and training cooperation. The bill also requires a report to Congress on Pakistan’s use of offensive force, including terrorism, against India, and would bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if found sponsoring terrorism against India.
This is the first time an India-centric bill of this nature has been introduced in the US Congress, proposing to elevate India to the level of treaty allies and exempt it from CAATSA sanctions while imposing sanctions on Pakistan for terrorism against India.
