In a momentous development during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inaugural visit to the United States, India has officially become a signatory of the Artemis Accords. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have forged an agreement to embark on a joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024. This collaborative venture will witness the convergence of expertise and resources from both nations in a remarkable journey towards the ISS. The NASA and ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first State visit to the US witnessed India deciding to join Artemis Accords on June 22, 2023 and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Indian Space Research Organisation agreeing to a joint mission to the International Space Station or ISS in 2024.

NASA has introduced the Artemis Accords, a set of guiding principles that draw inspiration from the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST). According to NASA, these accords are designed to shape and govern the exploration and utilization of outer space in the modern era.

Although the Artemis Accords are non-binding, they represent a collaborative effort led by the United States with the goal of facilitating a manned return to the moon by 2025, as part of the ambitious Artemis program. However, the accords extend beyond lunar missions, outlining a broader vision that includes human presence and exploration in destinations such as Mars and other celestial bodies.

As of May 2023, the number of signatories to the Artemis Accords stands at 25, representing a diverse range of countries. These signatories include the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Bahrain, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), the Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century. It is an American-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond. The NASA and ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation this year, the official said.

India and US have also signed an agreement on AI and quantum technologies. The Indian Quantum universities and entities are welcome to work with Economic Development Consortium of the United States. The countries are also working together in advanced telecommunication including 5G and 6G technologies. India and US are also working together on Open Radio Access Network (RAN) systems. Indian and US companies will partner to build an ecosystem for semiconductors that promotes supply chain diversification.

Micron Technology, in partnership with the Indian National Semiconductor Mission, has revealed plans for a significant investment exceeding USD 800 million. This substantial financial commitment, coupled with additional funding from Indian authorities, will culminate in the establishment of a state-of-the-art semiconductor assembly and test facility in India, with a total investment amounting to USD 2.75 billion.

India's initiatives pertaining to 5G and 6G technology, along with the US Next G alliance will jointly spearhead a novel forum for public-private cooperation. Furthermore, the United States has expressed its openness to Indian participation in the US rip and replace program, which aims to eliminate telecommunications equipment manufactured by untrusted vendors.

This collaborative effort signals a growing partnership between the two nations in addressing critical security concerns and advancing telecommunications infrastructure. In space technology, India and the US have already signed a Space Situational Awareness arrangement. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite is set for launch in late-2023.

Today India and the US are working together, in space and in the seas, in science and in semi-conductors, in start-ups and sustainability, in tech and in trade, in farming and finance, in art and artificial intelligence, in energy and education, in healthcare and humanitarian efforts, PM Narendra Modi has said during his US visit.

India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a "global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. The emphasis placed by the government in India on development and good governance has created opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation.

Regular exchange of high-level political visits has provided sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation, while the wide-ranging and ever-expanding dialogue architecture has established a long-term framework for India-U.S. engagement. Today, the India-U.S. bilateral cooperation is broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high-technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health. Vibrant people-to-people interaction and support across the political spectrum in both countries nurture bilateral relationship.

The India-US economic and strategic partnership has seen significant progress in recent years. In FY 2023, the US became India’s largest trade partner for merchandise goods, resulting in a total bilateral trade value of US$128.78 billion. This partnership has been further enhanced by shared strategic policies spanning the Indo-Pacific to West Asia. Both countries prioritize technological advancement, innovation, resilient supply chains, and inclusive, sustainable growth.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US from June 21-23, 2023, facilitated crucial discussions over a wide range of topics, including defense and security cooperation, advancements in technology sectors such as telecom, semiconductors, and mobility, civil-nuclear cooperation, space exploration, collaboration in higher education, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and counter-narcotics efforts.

The year 2022 was rewarding for both democracies, which saw the forging of significant new partnerships, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the consolidation of existing ones, such as I2U2, Quad, etc. Tangible outcomes included the resolution of market access issues, the Quad focus on STEM, the signing of an Investment Incentive Agreement, the launch of Technology Innovation Hubs as a collaboration of the respective science agencies, a record level of trade and investments, etc.

Experts and diplomats forecast that the future of India-US ties will determine the future of technology and innovation. As India is presently holding the G20 presidency, the India-US partnership is further likely to intensify to achieve global growth objectives that are inclusive, sustainable, and focus on critical and emerging technologies, resilient supply chains, and climate action.

(The author is a freelance columnist and can be mailed at numaanmha@gmail.com)