India and the U.S. — it’s complicated

India and the U.S. — it’s complicated

Article:

1. Rakesh Sood, a former Diplomat has talked about how about India-U.S strategic development and issues.

Important Analysis:

2. India-US 2+2 dialogue is a significant development for both countries. It reflects the growing strategic development.

3. Author has discussed few factors which led to development in strategic partnership.

• End of Cold war.
• Opening of Indian economy for American private sector (Currently it stand $120 Billion with target of $500 Billion in next five years)
• Balanced Foreign Direct Investment by both countries ($20 Billion by US and $15 Billion by India)
• Another factor is three-million-strong Indian diaspora.
• Participation of Indians in US congress.

4. Though engagement between both countries seems to be moving into positive direction, it has not been very smooth.

5. Concern raised by Author

6. US dominant nature when dealing with its junior partner countries.Due to unequal bargains in bilateral talk, US find India’s approach is rigid.

• Both countries have a habit of preaching and problem arises when they try to preach each other.

7. However both countries are exceptional as US is the oldest and India is the largest democracy.

8. Despite all these argument both countries has able to foster strong relation and leading to 2+2 dialogue.

9. Both countries have learned by treating each other as equal partners.

10. Both countries was involved in dozens of talk between 1998 and 2000 covering nuclear issues post 1998 nuclear test and sanction imposed by US.

11. Significant Strategic development

• Establishment of India-U.S. bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2008.
• Defence Dialogue began in 2005 and took final shape after a decade in 2015 in a form of India-U.S. Defence Framework Agreement.
• Currently India conduct maximum number of military exercises with USA.
• During cold war era three-fourth of India’s defence equipment was of Soviet Union but now U.S and Israel are the major defence supplier.
• India Air Force acquired C-130J Hercules, C-17 Globemaster aircraft, Apache attack helicopters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters from USA
• Indian Navy acquired a troop carrier ship and the P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
• The Indian Army acquired M-777 howitzers and artillery radar
• Agreement for 24 multi-role helicopters for the Indian Navy is expected soon.

12. During Obama administration, beside defence cooperation, development in technology sharing took place and led to establishment of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTII).

13. Pathfinder project was an outcome of this initiative.

14. 2016, India was designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ country.

15. Entry of India into Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) category which enabled India access to technology at par with other allies.

16. However there are some obligation associated with Indian access to US technology such as:

• Obligation related to logistics support, communications compatibility and security, and exchanges of geospatial information
• GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) signed in 2002.
• Standard logistics support agreement to provide logistics supplies during port visits and joint exercises.

17. Major issues to be addressed in 2+2

• To deal with Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which enables the U.S. government to sanction countries that engage with Russian military and intelligence entities.
• The proposed purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia would attract CAATSA sanctions
• Later Provision of waiver has now provided to India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
• Despite U.S. sanctions on Iran India is showing interest in building Chahabar port and import crude oil.

18. Creative involvement of India is required in 2+2 dialogue to tackle these challenges.