- US lawmakers has introduced a bill called HR 2123 to strengthen US-India strategic partnership.The legislation if passed would ensure that the US State Department treat India as a NATO ally for the purposes of the Arms Export Control Act.
- The proposed legislation follows the National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA),2017.The NDAA had designated India as a major defence partner which brings India at par with closest US partners in terms of defence trade and technology transfer.
- The significance of the legislation is that it would send a powerful signal that defence sales to India should be prioritised according to US-India Strategic Partnership Forum,which had worked on this legislation.
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.It constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
