Image Source: TRIBUNE

As US President Donald Trump heads to India, the two countries which were on opposite ends of the strategic spectrum 30 years ago today have a defence relationship that has emerged as a major pillar of the India-US strategic partnership.

The two countries now conduct more bilateral exercises with each other than they do with any other country. The US has already supplied more than $18 billion worth of weapons and planes to India in the past 12 years. Three more deals worth $7.50 billion (approximately Rs 52,500 crore) are in the pipeline. Binding agreements have been inked which allow deeper alliances.