NEW DELHI: Rising Indo-US strategic and Military Partnership
With an eye on Pakistan and China in mind India is gradually dropping in the lap of US in the name of strategic partnership.
This is the second visit of the US Defence Secretary Ash Carter to India in less than a year where he is having the high profile meetings with senior Indian officials.
Why US is strategically shifting towards India so rapidly ?
Why India is drifting in the lap of US so rapidly ?
US needs a big nation state in Asia to counter it’s future rival China so as to contain it in South China Sea and Indian Ocean.
US wants to repeat the same old containment policy which it applied to USSR in the times of Cold War.
The obvious choice left with US is India.
Is it the only reason why US is getting strategically closer towards India; No
India has become the world largest Arms importer within couple of years and stands at No. 6 position in terms of military expenditures across the globe.
How come US Arms and Weapon industry could ignore such a lucrative client of arms and ammunition. US is the world largest arms exporter for years and is expected to retain the coveted slot for quite some time.
US has already surpassed Russia as the main supplier and exporter of arms and weaponary to Russia.
It is estimated that Indo-US Weapons and Arms trade is crossing $10 billion mark soon.
However question arises Why India is so rapidly drifting towards US ?
India has long desired to become the regional super power in Asia but the dream sees Pakistan and China as the only hurdles in its designs.
Pak- China CPEC Project is also seen as a throne in eye of which India has publicity retaliated with the Chinese officials; but of no use.
India wants to cater the rising military might of China without giving it the thought that Chinese military and technological advancements are indigenous while India is dependent on the foreign technological assistance in military spheres.
The three decade old Indian indigenous LCA/Tejas Aircraft projects are the testimony of the poor Indian technology and advancements in military spheres.
While keeping China in its mind India wants to qualitatively and quantitatively wants to out class Pakistan also in conventional military strength.
The Russian technology is of no interest to India now as it is becoming inferior to latest Chinese researches and technological advancements.
US and India are planning one of the biggest military joint venture of an Air Craft Carrier with possible technology transfer as Russia-India joint venture of Air Craft carrier is seen as much inferior to the US deal.
US is trying it’s level best to strike a deal of Logistic Support Agreement LSA with India which would authorise either of the two states to establish their Land, Naval or Air Bases for logistic purposes in each other soil.
The intention is quite clear that USA wants to put it’s Military foot down on Indian soil as reciprocally India may not have any logical interest in establishing it’s bases thousands of miles away in USA. So for whose benefit the LSA is for?
India is willing to sign the LSA with a bit of just moral reluctance that it will lose its so called traditional neutral and non aligned role in world politics which even earlier was also limited to its nomenclature only, May it be cold war or afterwards.
Soon the LSA is going to see the light of the day and the day would not be then so far away when the US Naval fleet commanded by Centcom would be anchored of shore coast of Mumbai.
With the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative DTTI, another feather in the crown of US-Indo emerging strategic ties, USA is offering India with almost every arsenal up its sleeves starting from GunShip Helicopters, F-16 Fighting Falcons, FA-18 Hornets, Predator Drones and the long list goes on.
With the ever increasing military and economic might of China in the regional as well as the international scenario the US-Indo strategic partnership is going to deepen further.
However the question rises in the minds of strategic Analysts that whether India is on the way of becoming another Israel for USA to secure its national interests in the region.
On the other hand will India be ever able to compete with China with imported and borrowed military technology and assets.