America And India: Aligned But Not Allied

Zebra

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http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/06/america-and-india-aligned-but-not-allied.html

America And India: Aligned But Not Allied

Thursday, June 16, 2016 by Indiandefense News

by Uma Purushothaman

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last week imparted new energy into the Indo-US relationship with consolidation of relations in areas such as nuclear, defense, clean energy and counter terrorism. However, with no great breakthroughs announced, much was also left unsaid.

First, let's look at what was accomplished. Defense ties were significantly augmented. The elevation by the US of India to a 'major defense partner' means that like US allies, India is now eligible to receive more advanced and sensitive technology, including dual use technology, from the US even though the defense relationship will remain primarily a commercial buyer-seller relationship.

America’s refusal to export dual use technology to India has long been a sore point with Indian policy makers. Of all the areas in which the US and India have cooperated in the last decade, defense has been the most robust with India importing a little over $US10 billion worth of defense equipment, making it the second largest arms importer of US arms after Saudi Arabia. The finalization of the text of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LIMOA)is also significant step forward as it shows that the Modi administration is overcoming Manmohan Singh’s government reluctance to sign the so-called 'foundational' agreements with the US. However, two more such agreements — the BECA and the CISMOA — are still not finalized.

The commercial part of the Indo-US nuclear deal was finally operationalized with the Westinghouse announcement, and the US reiterated support for India’s entry into the export control regimes, again part of the Indo-US deal.

On counter terrorism, the joint statement called on 'Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice'. This is significant in light of the growing uneasiness in the US about Pakistan’s trustworthiness and utility as an ally. The US statement asking Pakistan not to allow its territory to be used for planning attacks against India must have been music to the ears of India’s security establishment and is affirmation of America’s support for India’s stance vis-à-vis Pakistan’s links to terrorism in India.

No meeting between the leaders of India and America can be complete these days without the mandatory reference to the Asia-Pacific, that new hub of global and regional politics. New Delhi and Washington have agreed on a roadmap on the region and have decided to be 'priority partners in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region'. The US has also expressed support for India’s membership of the APEC, though one could argue Obama's support for the TPP is undermining the APEC.

However, while progress has been made on these fronts, there appear to have been some areas where there was no headway, primarily on the economic front. Differences over Intellectual Property Rights seem no closer to a resolution. Neither has there been any forward movement on the Bilateral Investment Treaty and the Totalization Agreement, both of which have been under negotiation for years now.

Modi’s visit might come as a disappointment to those who thought it would be the final step in India moving towards an alliance with the US. While Modi's speech to the US Congress cited the commonality of goals and values between the two nations, he also cautioned that there would be times when the two countries would have 'differing perspectives'.

He also spoke about 'autonomy in decision making', a clear allusion to India’s strategic autonomy. What was also interesting about the joint statement was the absence of any specific reference to the South China Sea, unlike in the joint statements of September 2014 and January 2015. This is perhaps because India does not want to needle China unnecessarily at a time when China is opposing India’s inclusion into the NSG and when the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on Philippines’ case against China is due. Moreover, India had signed the joint communiqué at the RIC meeting in April this year, which could be interpreted as being supportive of China’s position on the South China Sea issue.

Finally, while both countries agreed to move ahead with the Paris agreement on climate change, India refused to set out when it would sign the agreement. Presumably the US would have desired such a timeline, given President Obama would like the climate deal to be part of his foreign policy legacy.

Clearly, India will continue to walk the diplomatic tightrope between its relationship with the US and its other partners like China and Russia and its domestic developmental needs and the demands made on it by the US. Modi’s visit built on the legacies of Prime Ministers A B Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and helped the relationship overcome the 'hesitations of history'. It underscored the alignment between the two countries on most issues. But it also underlined that while India and the US are aligned on many fronts, there is a long distance to go before they become allies.
 

Zebra

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^^

Sounds like they are in relationship only.

And not married yet.

:biggrin2:
 

garg_bharat

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US warns India over S-400 deal with Russia:
India's decision to buy the long-range S-400 missile defense system from Russia will have serious implications on defence ties, the Trump administration has warned.

The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.

India and Russia signed a USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October last after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Senior State Department Official told a group of reporters on Thursday that New Delhi's decision to buy S-400 air defence system from Moscow was significant, disagreeing with the view that it "isn't a big deal".

The official disagreed with the view that India's buying of S-400 from Russia might not have an impact as long as it increases its military purchase from the US.

"I disagree. The S-400 is significant because of CAATSA sanctions. It's also significant because of what it precludes, in terms of future high-tech cooperation," the official said.

The S-400 missile defence system deal could result in US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia.

The official said if India went ahead with its decision to buy the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, it will have serious implications on the defence ties.

The Trump administration has been very clear that the acquisition of advanced Russian technology sends the wrong message to Russia at a time when it continues its aggressions, the official said.

"Those concerns we hold high," said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"You can look at the very serious conversation that's taking place with our NATO partner Turkey and the same concerns will apply should India proceed with an S-400 purchase," the official said.

"We don't commingle highest technology systems. There are threats posed by the purchase of an S-400. So that conversation you're seeing played out in Turkey right now," the official said, asserting that those same concerns would apply to India as well. -- PTI
 

garg_bharat

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I was wondering when this S400 issue blows up.
So finally it has.
 

IndianHawk

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US warns India over S-400 deal with Russia:
India's decision to buy the long-range S-400 missile defense system from Russia will have serious implications on defence ties, the Trump administration has warned.

The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.

India and Russia signed a USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal in October last after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Senior State Department Official told a group of reporters on Thursday that New Delhi's decision to buy S-400 air defence system from Moscow was significant, disagreeing with the view that it "isn't a big deal".

The official disagreed with the view that India's buying of S-400 from Russia might not have an impact as long as it increases its military purchase from the US.

"I disagree. The S-400 is significant because of CAATSA sanctions. It's also significant because of what it precludes, in terms of future high-tech cooperation," the official said.

The S-400 missile defence system deal could result in US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Russia.

The official said if India went ahead with its decision to buy the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, it will have serious implications on the defence ties.

The Trump administration has been very clear that the acquisition of advanced Russian technology sends the wrong message to Russia at a time when it continues its aggressions, the official said.

"Those concerns we hold high," said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"You can look at the very serious conversation that's taking place with our NATO partner Turkey and the same concerns will apply should India proceed with an S-400 purchase," the official said.

"We don't commingle highest technology systems. There are threats posed by the purchase of an S-400. So that conversation you're seeing played out in Turkey right now," the official said, asserting that those same concerns would apply to India as well. -- PTI
Stupid Americans. What tech have they provided us till now and they are worried that future tech cooperation will be affected. DTTI is dead. No engine tech no nothing. Atleast Russia is helping out with nuke subs and hypersonic plus ramjet (sfdr) . And idiot American want us to give it up and wait for there benovelence of future cooperation .LOL.

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AmoghaVarsha

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India will buy the S400 and Trump can do jack about it. US is mistaken if it thinks India will dump its national security and Russia for US.

I feel pakis are using afghanistan as leverage to pressurise US to stop the S400 deal.

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Cutting Edge 2

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So finally US sanctions coming to India.

I have said this in past and I'll say this again: US sanctions have only benefited India in the long run. These sanctions have done a great deal keeping India out of western influence and helped India develop an independent foreign policy.


We should be cheering these sanctions not lamenting it.


In last 5 years we have extracted everything that can be extracted from US. No further support from US is expected or needed. (considering NSG isn't happening anytime soon)


Now US can say goodbye to LEMOA, CISMOA and whatever other garbage deals that where signed. Less money for Boing/LM. More tax raids on American companies in India. :lol:


And maybe (MAYBE) Agni 6 test just to spit in Uncle's face. :biggrin2:


Good news. :yo:
 

Aaj ka hero

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So finally US sanctions coming to India.

I have said this in past and I'll say this again: US sanctions have only benefited India in the long run. These sanctions have done a great deal keeping India out of western influence and helped India develop an independent foreign policy.


We should be cheering these sanctions not lamenting it.


In last 5 years we have extracted everything that can be extracted from US. No further support from US is expected or needed. (considering NSG isn't happening anytime soon)


Now US can say goodbye to LEMOA, CISMOA and whatever other garbage deals that where signed. Less money for Boing/LM. More tax raids on American companies in India. :lol:


And maybe (MAYBE) Agni 6 test just to spit in Uncle's face. :biggrin2:


Good news. :yo:
No sanctions I say it is bullying and pressure building.
the s-400 deal is happening.
 

Haldiram

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So finally US sanctions coming to India.

I have said this in past and I'll say this again: US sanctions have only benefited India in the long run. These sanctions have done a great deal keeping India out of western influence and helped India develop an independent foreign policy.
Correcto.

India will do what it wants, and it is willing to pay the price for its actions. In return, those who are forcing us to pay a price for merely looking out for our own security will also have to be prepared to pay a price in the future. India never forgets.

We haven't taken it lying down. We have hit back at Walmart, Amazon, Pepsi, Monsanto, we have traded 15 B $ worth of US bonds, much to the annoyance of Murica. The Russian people have been on the receiving end of US sanctions for 5 years now. China started feeling the pain 2 years ago. Their people bucked up and brazened it out. There's no way India is going to get any special treatment from the US. They are trying to weaken other economies to browbeat them into making preferential trade agreements with the US. That's not going to happen, as they saw from India's response.
 

garg_bharat

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Its not what S400 does for India but it is question of alliances India has. We cannot drop a deal with Russia just because USA objects.

India cannot replace all its Russian arms with American ones.

India has very unreliable institutional support in USA. Changing entire security archtecture in favour of USA is very risky for India.
 

Cutting Edge 2

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No sanctions I say it is bullying and pressure building.
the s-400 deal is happening.
Well its a classic case of US being US.


S-400 is a bilateral deal between two sovereign [and powerful (nuclear:devil:)] nations. Even if US offers sun and moon we are still going to stick to the deal. India has never backed down from a signed agreement (including with Pakistan).

Mind you CAATSA is an "American Law" we (nor Russia) aren't under any obligation to abide by it.
Thus US has only one option. Sanction. :pound: I'd say bring it on, We have our own surprises waiting for you.:bounce:





PS: A small US protectorate (Turkey) has openly humiliated US on S-400 issue and US thinks that a powerhouse nation like India will capitulate and that too under a RW gov who just won full majority on national security. :pound:
 

Cutting Edge 2

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After dropping India from preferential trade status and latest threats of Caatsa sanctions.

More love from our Uncle


Donald Trump blames India, China, Russia for not doing enough on climate change, says US has 'cleanest air'


https://www.firstpost.com/world/don...-change-says-us-has-cleanest-air-6769321.html


Isn't it ripe time to cancel all defense deals with US and start harassing US companies? When will Modi take tough stand against west?
 

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