New Delhi: India and the United States are now investigating the possibility of a new arrangement that would allow US warships to be repaired at Kolkata port. This action represents a closer level of cooperation between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific area. The US Navy signed contracts with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro last year. Furthermore, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. just signed a comparable agreement to join the list. These agreements allow the US Navy access to Indian ports, including Goa Shipyard Ltd.'s current discussions, and Cochin and Kattupalli in Chennai.
The Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA), which contains a number of provisions pertaining to security, payments, and liabilities, enables eligible shipyards to compete for US Navy repair projects. In 2023, Ajay Bhatt, the Minister of State for Defence, told the Lok Sabha that American Navy ships will be berthed at Indian shipyards while they were undergoing repairs.
The addition of Kolkata Port to this network could draw attention from other US allies such as the UK and boost India's defense ties with the US. The UK's Royal Navy stated earlier this year that it would be sending two auxiliary ships to Katupalli Shipyard in Chennai for maintenance.
In June, when PM Narendra Modi visited the US, both nations emphasized India's function as a center for upkeep and repair of US Navy equipment. This is in line with the Defence Industrial Roadmap, which calls for joint efforts in India's infrastructure for aircraft and vessel repair and maintenance.
These accords serve as a testament to the expanding defense collaboration between Washington and New Delhi, which has been demonstrated by a rise in military drills, fundamental defense pacts, and strategies for defense sector collaboration, which include cooperative production projects like the F-414 jet engine developed in India by HAL and General Electric.
