U.S. and India sign landmark Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)
In a significant move to bolster bilateral defense relations, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a landmark Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) on August 22 during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the United States. The agreement, hailed as transformational, was signed by Dr. Vic Ramdass, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, on behalf of the U.S., and Samir Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisitions) for the MoD.
The SOSA, a non-binding bilateral arrangement, is set to elevate the U.S.-India Major Defense Partner relationship by ensuring both nations provide reciprocal priority support for essential goods and services critical to national defense. This agreement is particularly valuable during crises when immediate access to critical supplies, minerals, and technologies becomes crucial. For the U.S., it ensures that Indian orders for frontline equipment receive priority, while India establishes a government-industry Code of Conduct, committing Indian firms to prioritize U.S. requests.
“This Security of Supply Arrangement represents a pivotal moment in the U.S.-India defense partnership and will play a key role in strengthening the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI),” said Dr. Ramdass. He also expressed anticipation for the upcoming DTTI meeting, which will further deepen cooperation between the defense industries of both nations.
The agreement marks India as the 18th SOSA partner of the U.S., joining a list that includes countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Israel. These agreements are instrumental in ensuring long-term supply chain stability and interoperability with U.S. defense trade partners, particularly in addressing supply chain disruptions during peacetime, emergencies, and armed conflicts.
In addition to SOSA, an agreement concerning the Assignment of Liaison Officers was also signed. Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary International Cooperation, MoD, and Dr. Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, signed this agreement.
The U.S. Department of Defense emphasized the strategic importance of these agreements, noting that they provide a structured approach to developing investment strategies that ensure redundancy and security in defense supply chains. The agreements also establish working groups and communication mechanisms within the DoD to streamline processes in response to supply chain challenges.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on an official visit to the U.S. from August 23 to 26, shared on social media that two critical documents were signed in Washington, D.C., marking the beginning of his visit. Singh is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss further enhancing defense cooperation between the two nations.
The SOSA deal reflects a mutual commitment to fairness and non-discrimination in supplying critical defense resources, ensuring a level playing field for suppliers from both nations. This arrangement is expected to solidify U.S.-India defense ties, providing both countries with the necessary tools to address unanticipated supply chain disruptions and meet national security needs.