AMCHAM India continued the defense delegation to Washington DC led by AMCHAM’s Chairman, Mr. Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India, along with Mr. William Blair, Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM India and Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India, on October 5th – 6th, 2021. The main purpose of the delegation was to inform and sensitize U.S. policymakers on defense related challenges impacting the U.S.-India relationship. The delegation interacted with many of the important players in the economic and strategic partnership and other key decision-makers.

The main topics of discussions with government officials included:

• • Indo Pacific strategy and cooperation
  • U.S.- India joint maritime exercises, export opportunities and advantage of interoperability
  • Mobilizing the Quad
  • CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) – awareness of the dynamics and possibility of waiver for India

On October 5th, the delegation met with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus. On October 6th, the delegation met with Mr. Rich Steffens, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, U.S. Department of Commerce and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX).