Associated Press
Friday, March 04, 2005

India, US Discuss Missile Defense Ahead Of Rice Visit

NEW DELHI (AP)--Indian and U.S. officials wound up two-day talks on missile defense Friday, ahead of the first official visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later this month, the foreign ministry said.

"The two sides continued discussions on issues related to missile defense and highlighted the security contribution that missile defenses can make," foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told a news conference.

American defense officials briefed their Indian counterparts on the newest developments in the U.S. missile defense program at meetings in the southern city of Hyderabad, he said.

Rice is expected to carry forward those discussions during her visit March 16-17, Sarna said.

"She will hold discussions on bilateral relations and will be discussing regional issues," he said.

The two nations recently completed the first phase of an agreement to cooperate in trade in high-technology, space, civilian nuclear safety and missile defense. India is seeking to forge closer defense ties with the U.S., and Indian and U.S. forces regularly carry out joint exercises in each other's airspace.

The closer ties are a stark contrast from the days of the Cold War when New Delhi was considered by Washington to be a Soviet ally.

Three years ago, Washington lifted economic sanctions imposed on New Delhi after it tested nuclear weapons in May 1998.