AMCHAM India organized a 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, from September 20th – 24th, 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
    • Opportunities in 5G, quantum computing and space
    • Collaboration on COVID initiatives and pandemic related support between both countries
    • Restart of the Trade Policy Forum later in 2021

In partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on Monday, September 20th, the delegation participated in an interaction with India experts from think tanks. Some of the participants in the discussion included, Mr. Richard M. Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, Center for Strategic & International Studies and Senior Director – India & South Asia, McLarty Associates, Mr. Ray Vickery, Senior Adviser, Albright Stonebridge Group and Senior Associate (Non-Resident), Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, Ms. Katherine Hadda, Adjunct Fellow (Non-Resident), Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, Dr. Irfan Nooruddin, Director, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council and Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Ms. Tanvi Madan, Director – The India Project and Senior Fellow – Foreign Policy, Project on International Order and Strategy, Brookings, Mr. Walter Lohman, Director, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Pravin Krishna, Chung Ju Yung Distinguished Professor of International Economics and Business, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Ms. Mona Dave, Asia Program Officer, National Endowment for Democracy, among others.

On September 21st, the delegation met with Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Mr. Christopher Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, South and Central Asia. On September 22nd, the delegation went to the Pentagon and met with Department of Defense officials: Mr. Michael Vaccaro, Acting Executive Director, International Cooperation, Mr. Duncan Lang, Chief, India Rapid Reaction Cell, Ms. Aditi Kumar, Senior Advisor, Office of Industrial Policy, Mr. Ike Blanton, Investment Review, Office of Industrial Policy, Ms. Monika Jones, Director of International Engagement, Office of Industrial Policy and Mr. Bob Burkett.

On September 23rd, the delegation met with Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Ms. Laura Stone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC). Finally, on September 24th, the delegation met with Senate Armed Services Committee professional staff supporting Chairman Reed: Mr. Mike Noblet, Ms. Leslie Ashton, Mr. Arun Seraphin and Mr. Bill Monahan and met with Defense/Foreign Policy Team of Senator James Inhofe: Mr. Don Archer, Mr. Dan Holder and Mr. Sam Trizza.

AMCHAM India Defense Delegation 2021

1. 1.   Mr. Salil Gupte, Chairman, AMCHAM India and President, Boeing India
   2.   Mr. William Blair, Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM India and Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India
   3.   Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM India
   4.   Ms. Valerie Swope, Program Coordinator, AMCHAM India