The United States on Thursday approved a $4 billion sale of military drones to India as the two countries seek to strengthen cooperation, including military cooperation, AFP reported.

According to a US State Department press release, the sale, which includes 31 MQ-9B drones, has been formally notified to Congress in accordance with US law.

Congress has not yet officially authorized the sale of these drones to General Atomics, but most US elected officials favor closer ties with New Delhi.

“The proposed sale will increase India’s ability to respond to current and future threats by enabling it to conduct unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols of maritime operational lanes,” it said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received with great fanfare at the White House last June, and President Joe Biden visited New Delhi for the G20 summit, praising the “strong and enduring partnership” between the two countries.

India is also a member of the Quadrant, which brings together the United States, Australia and Japan to discuss security issues.

New Delhi is on the front line against China’s rise and is a proponent of multiple alliances, continuing, for example, to work with Russia, which has been ostracized by the West since its invasion of Ukraine.