Indo–US Defence and Security Relations
The situation arising out of a rising China and its belligerence in dealing with its neighbouring countries in the security and economic domains have brought India and US on same platform today.
India and US are the two largest democracies of the world. They share common values and ethos, political landscape, democratic principles and rich cultural heritage, thus both countries qualify for being natural allies. The strange geopolitics of 21st Century brings these two democracies closer than ever before. The present President of US, Joe Biden had said in 2006: “My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the US. If that occurs, the world will be a safer place.” It has happened in 2020 and his dream of providing more stability to the new world order should now fructify.
In a dynamic changing pattern of global world order, every nation state constantly look for its own ‘National Interest’. Based on this principle of international relations, the contours of alliances and friendships keep changing. The situation arising out of a rising China and its belligerence in dealing with its neighbouring countries in the security and economic domains have brought India and US on same platform today.
Roller Coaster Relationship
Two MH-60R Seahawks participate in a formation flyover during a ceremonyin which the Indian Navy inducted its first two MH-60Rs on July 16, 2021.
At the time of Independence in 1947, senior leadership of India had good and close relations with the United States which continued well after independence. In 1961, India became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement to avoid involvement in power-play between the United States and the Soviet Union and focus on the development and growth of the nation.
US openly supported India during the 1962 Indo-China Conflict and considered the Chinese action as “blatant Chinese Communist aggression against India”.
The United States flew in arms, ammunition and clothing supplies to the Indian troops and the US Navy even sent the aircraft carrier fleet to protect India. Though non–aligned, India slowly started leaning towards USSR, much to the dislike of US. Therefore, US had no choice but to align with Pakistan to maintain power of balance in South Asia.
The policy of non-alignment worked well in the cold war era but with collapse of USSR in 1991, the world started becoming unipolar with US emerging as the only super power. The Indian foreign policy soon adapted itself to the changed environment and started moving close to United States. After initial hesitant steps, new chapter of friendship and mutual cooperation started beginning in 21st Century.
Source: US Bureau of Economic AnalysisPost Cold War Era
It has been a long process of geopolitical realignments, post cold war era beginning 1991. The end of the Cold War also ended the hesitations and helped create this opening but the overhang of the nuclear issue continued to cast a shadow on the talks. The US responded harshly to Indian nuclear tests in 1998 by imposing a whole slew of economic sanctions and leading the international condemnation campaign.
However, the reality soon donned on policy makers of both countries and they realised the benefits of mutually beneficial closer relations. India realised the importance of technology infusion, so vital for it’s fast growth. Growing Indian economy provided a great opening to US companies and US also could not ignore India for long. Mutual beneficial position forged closer bipartisan ties between the two nations, driven by supremacy of own interests. Bilateral trade in goods and services was $20 billion in 2000 and reached around $400 billion in 2020-21. From less than $400 million of defence acquisitions till 2005, the US has since signed defence contracts of $18 billion. After COVID effect in 2020, the trade has increased by almost 1.91 per cent in January 2021. The four million-strong Indian Diaspora in the US has come of political age and its impact can be seen in the bilateral composition of the India Caucus (in the House) and the Senate Friends of India group.
Indo Us Defence Ties
Indo-US relations enjoy a mutual consensus, especially in ‘Defence and Security Relations (DSR)’ which are pivotal to their comprehensive global strategic partnership. DSR is now the crown-jewel of the mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
After change of regime in Delhi in 2014, one of the first priorities of the new government was ‘global strategic partnership’ with the United States which has emerged as an indispensable partner in India’s economic transformation. The defence partnership, a key pillar of the relationship, has also blossomed post 2014, certainly with an eye on emerging Chinese hegemony. Both countries are working together, consistently with shared strategic interests and with aim to further strengthening the defence and security partnership.
Under the framework of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, the two countries have been working together for co-production and co-development of defence equipment. The India-US defence trade, which has grown significantly in a short span of time, now stands at $21 billion. Other areas of mutual innovative cooperation such as developing trustworthy supply chains in next-gen defence technology, undertaking joint R&D, manufacturing, innovations and experimenting in new domains is up on the horizon. Bilateral and multilateral joint defence exercises have increased multifold in recent times.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin calls on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on March 19, 2021Russia Factor
The sticking road block in the India-US DSR is the status of Russia as India’s exclusive strategic defence ally. The strategic partnership with Russia had veered towards a virtual alliance between the two countries. No two countries have had such deep trust and cooperation.
Though, over the last decade, defence imports from Russia has been reduced from 80 per cent to 60 per cent but still 60 per cent of all military equipment and platforms in the three services being of Soviet/Russian origin, is a sizeable segment.
India has also contracted to purchase Russian S-400 AD system and leasing out Akula-1 nuclear powered submarine. India has not cancelled the contract in-spite of great pressure from US. A number of other projects, joint ventures and modernization programmes are in the pipeline. However, since beginning of 21st Century, India has broad based it’s arms import to now include US, France and Israel.
Russia has also recently intensified defence cooperation with China and Pakistan, both India’s adversaries-turned-enemies much to the dislike of India. The US wishes to exploit this disillusionment with Russia to wean India away from Russian military hardware, but given India’s historic dependence on it, this may be difficult, in near future.
China Factor
India and America enjoy trust and confidence in their bilateral relationship, and also both have strained relations with China. The India-US relationship has broadened and deepened into a comprehensive global strategic partnership unlike Indo-China relationship which is marred by border disputes and trade rivalry.
In addition, what has cemented the friendship is the perceived common threat from China, to their vital national interests. India is stepping up defence preparedness and contemplating force restructuring to become better prepared for a two front war with China and Pakistan, which is within the realm of distinct possibility. The common adversary has forced India and US to find mutual cooperation and stronger defence ties, as the win-win situation. More and more Indian policy makers are now recognising the value of tangible defence cooperation with the United States in managing the threats from Beijing.
Present Bonhomie
Indo-US strategic partnership today goes much beyond defence cooperation. Today, India and US strategic partnership is a broad based affair with US partnering India in defence production, transfer of latest technology, boosting Research and Development, military intelligence sharing, maritime security, space exploration and cyber security cooperation. All this goes on along with most comprehensive economic partnership in education, health care, energy and employment generation.
India’s immediate objective is to rapidly build its defence capabilities, in order to better deal with potential threats on its northern and western land borders and for dominance of the Indian Ocean. It needs the latest technologies to pursue its ambitious ‘Make in India’ programme in defence manufacturing. A rapidly growing economy and deeper pockets alone will not guarantee that unless agreements are in place to secure the latest technologies from the US. India has to ensure that hightech imports are equally matched by technology transfer for indigenous manufacturing.
The QUAD (Australia, India, Japan and US) is a concept which has found favour in recent past as a counter to rising China’s aggressive posturing against other countries. Common adversary in China is the glue that binds the four together. No country can stand up to China’s hegemony alone and therefore, it makes sense to find four powerful countries threatened by China’s coercive dominance, coming together to stand tall and face the common threat. Alongside the ministerial meeting in Tokyo earlier this month, the recent virtual meeting of the four Heads of States of QUAD was a great step towards cementing the mutual cooperation.
Way Ahead
India’s ability to meet the emerging geostrategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific is a function of its geographic location, leadership, the strategic doctrines and above all the resources at it’s disposal. The emerging geopolitics dictates need based alliances and strategic partnerships to counter the increasing aggressive China, a common rival. India and US, both need each other to orchestrate this fight against China on multiple fronts. India with it’s pivotal location emerges as the key player in this fight and US, in it’s own interest, is keen to recognise that wholeheartedly. India will have to take a holistic view of strategic relationship with US for building capacities to meet the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific. India desires that Indo-US defence cooperation should flourish, but certainly not at the cost of diluting it’s time tested friendship with Russia. The path ahead has to be treaded with care and caution, keeping the national interests in mind.
By ….. Maj Gen C P Singh, Retd.
Maj Gen C P Singh, Retd is a scholar soldier accredited with MA, MSc, LLB, MBA, M Phil (Def Mgt) and M Phil (International Strategic Affairs).
Widely travelled in India and Abroad, the General Officer is an avid reader and prolific writer.
Post retirement, he is a Social Activist, Career Consultant and a Motivational Speaker of repute. The author can be contacted at www.majgencpsingh.com
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