WASHINGTON: US has made India a strategic partner against China as it haddeclared Pakistan a strategic partner against Russia in the Afghan war.
It was a cold war era and today again it’s a new cold war era. India hasbecome an arms dumping ground for US. Containing China is as important aswas containing Russia through Pakistan.
India is the “biggest strategic opportunity” for the US with New Delhishowing more openness to strengthen bilateral security ties, a top Pentagoncommander has said, underlining a mutual desire for global stability andsupport for the rules-based international order, PTI has reported.
Admiral Harry Harris told Senate Armed Services committee, that the Quad,comprising India, US, Japan and Australia – is an important idea oflike-minded nations that can go after the challenges in the Indo Pacificregion.
In his prepared testimony, Harris said the US and India are naturalpartners on a range of political, economic, and security issues.
“I think India is the biggest strategic opportunity for the US. We sharedemocratic values, we share the same concerns, and we operate morefrequently in the Indo-Pacific region together,” Harris said.
He said with a mutual desire for global stability and support for therules-based international order, the US and India have an increasingconvergence of interests, including maritime security and domain awareness,counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and coordinatedresponses to natural disasters and transnational threats.
Noting that India will be among the US’ most significant partners in theyears to come due to its growing influence and expanding military, Harrissaid as a new generation of political leaders emerge, India has shown thatit is more open to strengthening security ties with the US and adjustingits historic policy of non-alignment to address common strategic interests.
Harris’ comments came amid China flexing muscles in the East and SouthChina seas.
The US has been sending its navy warships in the disputed South China Seaas part of its “freedom of navigation” operation, which evoked strongprotests from China .
Harris said the US seeks an enduring, regular, routine andinstitutionalised strategic partnership with India and the Pacific Commandidentifies a security relationship with India as a major commandline-of-effort.
Over the past year, US and Indian militaries participated together in threemajor exercises, executed more than 50 other military exchanges, andoperationalized the 2016 Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
He said defence sales are at an all-time high with India operatingUS-sourced airframes, such as P-8s, C-130Js, C-17s, AH-64s, and CH-47s, andM777 howitzers.
The Pacific Command, he said, will sustain the momentum of the strategicrelationship generated by the President-Prime Minister-level meeting andthe emerging 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue through strengthening theirmilitary-to-military relationship and working toward additional enablingagreements to enhance interoperability.
“At the moment, India is considering a number of US systems for purchase,all of which Pacific Command fully supports: the F-16 for India’s largesingle-engine, multi-role fighter acquisition program; the F/A-18E forIndia’s multi-engine, carried-based fighter purchase; a reorder of 12-15P-8Is; a potential purchase of SeaGuardian UAS; MH-60R multi-role sea-basedhelicopter; and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” Harris said.
Responding to a question on Quad from Senator Tim Kaine, who was the 2016Democratic vice-presidential nominee, he said “I think the Quad is animportant construct of like-minded nations that can go after the challengesthat are in the Indo-Pacific region. So that’s Japan, the United States,Australia, and India…The Quad is an idea. It’s not rigid. It is notexclusive.”
“I think the Quad is an idea, and it’s an important idea that I think thecountries are starting to get their arms around, including the US. ButIndia presents a great opportunity for us, and I think we present a greatopportunity for India,” Harris said. – PTI