US and India strengthen defence ties to counter China.

The US and India have agreed on a roadmap for defense industry cooperation, which is expected to boost India's defense manufacturing ambitions and deepen ties between the two countries. The move aims to counterbalance China's dominance in the region and wean India away from its traditional dependence on Russia for defense supplies. The roadmap includes proposals that could provide India access to cutting-edge technologies, and the two countries pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation.