Round The World
New Delhi, 19 September 2018
India & US
FAST-TRACKING PARTNERSHIP
By Dr D. K. Giri
(Prof, International Politics, JMI)
The first-ever 2+2
meeting between India and the United States held recently in New Delhi was a
defining moment for their growing partnership. The persistent speculation on
India-US relations notwithstanding, the meeting demonstrated the convergence of
US and India interest in their respective foreign policies. The US expects its friends,
partners and allies to play a greater role, share a bigger-burden in defending
their common interest, as it reduces its own commitments.
At the same time,
India aspires for greater engagement with Asiatic politics and security, and counter
balance China’s growing hegemonism in the region. In addition to their
respective external exigencies, both are challenged by China in two different
ways. The US would not want to concede its solo-super power status by sharing
any space for influence to China, and New Delhi would not like to be squeezed and
encircled by China.
From the above
perspective, it is evident that the US finds in India a capable and convenient
ally in its South Asia and even Asia strategy, if we consider quad --
comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan -- which is being considered to
be the prelude to an Asia NATO. India and the US are two largest democracies,
have no territorial dispute, no history of serious conflict of any kind. Of
late, no other country but the US has been supportive of India’s concern for
terrorism and her aspiration for a greater international role.
Against such a backdrop,
the Delhi meeting covered a lot of ground. Both New Delhi & Washington hailed
it as historic and ground-breaking in their partnership. The American foreign
policy spokesperson said, “We had a historic meeting with the foreign and
defence ministers of India which will put our bilateral relations on the
right-track from now on”.
The 2+2 dialogue
consisted of Defence Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
and Foreign and Defence Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman
respectively. This new format replaces the strategic and commercial dialogue
started under the Obama Administration since 2015. The aim of this dialogue is
to elevate strategic consultations, combining defence and foreign policy issues
into a coherent narrative. Trade issues are not a part of the agenda, but were
discussed as part of the ‘strategic issue’.
Obviously, the most
important outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Communications Compatibility
and Security Agreement (COMCASA), valid for 10 years, coming into operation
immediately. This ‘Agreement was indeed, a major step forward in our defence
collaborations and co-ordination’, said Sushma Swaraj. The Agreement will
enable Forces of both countries to have real-time satellite imagery; the US
satellites will track Chinese and Pakistan movement of Forces. If a US vessel
or aircraft happens to detect Chinese or Pakistani movement, it will alert
India. As per the Agreement, both countries agreed to carry-out joint exercises
comprising all the three forces -- navy, air force, and military, off the
east-coast of India starting from 2019. This will be first ever Indo-US
exercise of this kind.
Other significant
outcomes of the meeting are: New Delhi and Washington to work together to
secure India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group; deepen cooperation in
connectivity and infrastructure, strengthen cooperation in important
institutions such as the financial Action Task Force to deal with terrorism.
The meeting gave a further push to Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism, as
the US now stands by India in addressing terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
The other major area
of convergence of interest in promoting the stability of Afghanistan for both
India and the US is of great strategic importance. India would need safe
passage to Afghanistan in order to connect to Central Asia, and the US needs
Afghanistan to check Russian influence in the region. Although Russia has
considerably declined as a super power, the Russian military prowess backed by
Chinese economic strength pose a lurking challenge to American influence in the
region. The Delhi meeting resolved to promote an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and
Afghan-controlled’ reconciliation process. Such a strategic formulation implies
efforts to undermine Pakistani or any other country’s interference in
Afghanistan.
The meeting also underlined
the scope of military cooperation through the Strategic Trade Authorisation
Tier-1 status for India, which will facilitate high technology exports from the
US to India. Another milestone-achievement was that the NSG, at the behest of the
US, would allow India to engage in trades of civilian nuclear materials and
technologies. Similarly, Washington gave a positive response to New Delhi’s
request to let Indian companies to join the manufacturing supply chains of the
US defence companies.
While the 2+2 meeting
is said to be a thundering success, there are areas of concern that need to be
kept in mind and dealt with. One, the unpredictability of President Trump’s
policies, in particular, his attempt to pull the US out of Internationalism,
whip up nationalism through tariffs, and reciprocal trade concessions etc.
India is one of the targets of Trump tariff regime.
Second, imposing
sanctions on countries, which buy arms from Russia. This will jeopardise
India’s long-standing arms-trade with Russia, including the latest purchase of
S-400 missiles. Third, the issue of dealing with Iran. India has invested in
its relationship with Teheran, especially in building the Chabahar port, as a transit
route to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Iran is also one of the big exporters of
oil to India. New Delhi has managed to maintain friendly, transactional
relations with Iran, despite the continuing conflict between Teheran and
Washington.
But, this time
around, New Delhi may have to make a choice, as Washington is bent upon
severing all its ties with Teheran. What are India’s options? Will New Delhi
reclaim its non-aligned stance, and its sovereign prerogative to choose its
partners, or will it be disinclined to forsake its growing stakes in the US
relationship, or can it have it both? A difficult balancing act!
Some experts would
suggest that New Delhi has alternatives in the Middle East in its growing ties
with UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are in conflict with Iran. In fact, New Delhi
has a sensitive aspect to its relations with the countries in the Middle East
vis-a-vis the US. India was
unequivocally supportive of Palestine both for its colonisation by Israel, also
for assuaging its big Muslim population. The Muslim electorate, especially for
the Congress party partly determined India’s policy towards Middle East
including Iran. Under the NDA dispensation, where Muslim votes are not assured,
New Delhi can take a National Interest Perspective. Hence, dealing with Iran
may be easier.
Judging from the
deliberations and outcomes of the 2+2 meeting, Indo-US relations are on a
steady growth path. The US seems to have found a countervailing power to China in
Indo-Pacific region, and India finds the required support of a powerful state
like the US to meet aspirations as an international player. For now, there
seems to be a perfect fit between the strategic interests of India and the US.---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
|