Wait and watch: on U.S. security strategy 

Wait and watch: on U.S. security strategy 

Context

India has unequivocally welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of the National Security Strategy (NSS) for his country during his tenure.

India should be wary of being drawn too tightly into the U.S. security embrace

• India has unequivocally welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of the National Security Strategy (NSS) for his country during his tenure
  To be sure, the positive words used in the international section of the 55-page strategy paper represent an affirmation of India’s stature, and acknowledge “India’s emergence as a leading global power”
• It mentions plans to “encourage Indian economic assistance in the region”, and outlines U.S. support to India’s “leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region”

On China and Pakistan

As a priority. Mr. Trump’s views of China’s assault on the “sovereignty” of South Asian nations and of Pakistan’s continued support to terror groups are closely aligned with India’s concerns in the neighbourhood.

Appreciated by New Delhi

In its response, New Delhi has “appreciated the strategic importance” given to India as well as the common objectives that India and the U.S. now share.

These countries dismiss the NSS

Predictably, the five countries singled out by the U.S. for criticism have not been as warm in their response

China

China has accused the U.S. of pursuing what it calls a “cold war mentality and the zero-sum game”.

Russia

Russia has said that the strategy reeks of “imperialism” as the NSS accuses China and Russia of using their military might to deny America access to what it calls “critical commercial zones”.

Pakistan

Pakistan, Iran and North Korea have also been dismissive.

India should be wary

India must be mindful, therefore, that in welcoming the U.S.’s categorisations of its security threats, it doesn’t unthinkingly get swept into an American clinch

US perception changes with time

• To begin with, the U.S. articulation of its perceived challenges has swung wildly over the past year of the Trump administration
• It would be wise to await a stabilisation in Mr. Trump’s policies, or at least concrete action to back its words.
• While the U.S. strategy deals with global concerns, the past year has seen American withdrawal from pacts ranging from the Trans-Pacific Partnership to the Paris agreement on climate change
• A tough U.S. security strategy can only be realised through cogent policymaking — whether it is on Israel-Palestine, North Korea, Iran or Afghanistan, Mr. Trump has been publicly at odds with his key advisers

Conclusion

A watch-and-wait stance is still India’s best option to preserve the autonomous and pluralistic nature of its engagement in areas where the U.S. faces its greatest challenges.