A Security Nexus perspective, “Deterrence Needs a Factory: Fixing the U.S.–India Industrial Gap,” by Shyam Tekwani, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, argues that while strategic alignment between the United States and India has advanced, their defense industrial cooperation remains underdeveloped.

The essay highlights how both countries share mutual goals—resilient supply chains, forward deterrence, and defense innovation—yet continue to fall short of implementation. Tekwani urges both nations to shift from high-level dialogue to ground-level execution, including co-investment in manufacturing and defense technologies.

With India building domestic capacity and the U.S. seeking trusted industrial partners, the partnership offers a timely opportunity to strengthen regional deterrence. The paper calls for joint production, streamlined procurement, and clearer licensing frameworks to unlock collaborative potential. Without this shift, deterrence in the Indo-Pacific risks remaining aspirational rather than operational.

U.S. and India flags of equal size with handshake and military icons, symbolizing defense cooperation.

Read it online at: Deterrence Needs a Factory: Fixing the U.S.–India Industrial Gap

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