2+2 is less than the sum of its parts? |ForumIAS

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Article:

M.K. Narayanan, former National Security Advisor has discussed the outcome and implication of the 2+2 summit.

Important Analysis:

Defence and Foreign Minister of India and U.S concluded 2+2 summit on 6^th Sept, 2018.
In author’s views, U.S has been the main beneficiary with this dialogue because US opted for India to balance China’s growing influence.
Benefit to India:

Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) – Facilitate India’s access to advance defense system of U.S and Allow Army of both countries to enhance interoperability.
Under COMCASA India hopes to secure state-of-art items such as Weaponized Sea Guardian Drone and Armed Predator-B
U.S also offering to transfer specialized equipment for encrypted communication for U.S. origin platforms like C-17, C-130 and P-8I aircraft.

5. Negative implication of 2+2 dialogue on India:

India’s obligation to share operational intelligence in real time.
India may come under further pressure on signing the fourth foundational security agreement which is Basic Exchange and Co-operation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Co-Operation (BECA), after already signing the other 3 security agreements.

6. Expected outcomes in the future:

U. S’s defense innovation Organization Unit and India’s Defense Innovation Organization intend to progress on joint projects for production and development of Defense technology.

7. Grey areas for India:

U.S has designated India as a strategic partner but has not yet cleared if there would be any relief on sanctions imposed by it on trading with Russia and Iran.
Any new defense purchase from Russia will attract Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
India is interpreting the purchase of S-400 missile defense system from Russia will not attract CAATSA.

8. Why tilting towards U.S is Danger

China emerging as a second biggest world power.
Re-emergence of Russia.
U.S “strategic retreat” in Asia, such as failure of ‘Pivot to Asia’ and Trump’s ‘America First Policy’ signalling losing of US’s interest in Asia.
U.S.’s ineffectiveness to check China’s ambition in Indo-Pacific region.
U.S.’s inability to check China’s action in South-China Sea dispute.

9 .India’s core interest in 2+2 dialogue:

2+2 is less than the sum of its parts?