India’s Defence Strategy

Source: The post India’s Defence Strategy has been created, based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: Dealing with the China question” published in “The Hindu” on  November 28, 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – International Relations

Context: India’s defence cooperation with like-minded Asian nations is gaining momentum, driven by the twin imperatives of countering China’s rising military power and modernising its defence industrial base.

Key Agreements with Australia and Japan

India-Australia Defence Collaboration: The agreement facilitates air-to-air refuelling between the two nations’ military aircraft.

India-Japan Defence Collaboration: Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint production of stealth equipment for Indian warships, setting the stage for deeper defence technology sharing.

These agreements signal the need for stronger defence ties between India and its Asian partners, given their shared security concerns.

What is the significance of India’s defence agreements with other countries?

1. China’s Growing Military Capability: China’s defence spending on military modernisation surpasses the combined expenditure of India and Japan. For eg. Between 1995 and 2020, China commissioned 70 submarines, showcasing unmatched production capabilities not seen since World War II.

2. Need for Multilateral Cooperation: No single Asian country, including India, can independently counterbalance China’s military strength.

3. Erosion of “Asia for Asians” Sentiment: Historically, Asian nations aimed to keep external powers out of regional disputes. However, China’s push for regional dominance has led many to welcome American military presence as a stabilizing force.

4. Overstretched Military of US: Countries are over-dependent on US. However, despite maintaining qualitative military superiority, the US faces challenges. US forces are stretched thin across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Russia’s actions in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East further strain US resources.

5. Defence Industrial Challenges: The US military-industrial complex struggles to meet ammunition and weapons demands.

What steps should India take for defence preparedness?

1. Modernising India’s Defence Industry: India has signed defence roadmaps with the US and France and plans to engage Italy. A high-level committee has recommended restructuring the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

2. Focus on Private Sector and Arms Exports: Greater involvement of the Indian private sector is required. India should be stepping up arms exports and fostering partnerships to strengthen its defence production.

3. Leveraging International Cooperation: The reshaping of global defence supply chains presents an opportunity for India to integrate its defence industry with international systems.

Question for Practice:

Discuss the key challenges and opportunities India faces in addressing the growing defense gap with China and how it can reform its defense strategy to maintain regional security.