The US annual defence budget of about USD 621(point)5 billion for the 2018 fiscal has been passed by the House of Representatives. Among other things, it seeks advancing of military cooperation with India, already a major defence partner of America.<br/><br/>An amendment on enhancing cooperation with India was moved by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera and was adopted by a voice vote by the House as part of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018, beginning October 1 this year. The NDAA-2018 was passed by the House 344-81.<br/><br/>The India-related amendment passed by the House requires the Secretary of Defence, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the United States and India.<br/><br/>Bera said, the United States is the world's oldest democracy and India is the world's largest democracy. It is vitally important to develop a strategy that advances defence cooperation between our two nations. He said, cooperation between the US and India enhances our own defence and our ability to meet the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.<br/><br/>NDAA needs to be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to the White House for the US President Donald Trump to sign into law.