US lawmakers seek NATO ally status for India

FRYCRY

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
733
Likes
915
Country flag
WASHINGTON: US lawmakerson Thursday approved amendments to a defence bill that seeks to bring India on a par with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) allies for sale of defence equipment and technology transfer, even as they voted to increase restrictions on military assistance for Pakistan , including immediately blocking $450 million in aid, unless certain conditions are met.

The passage of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), 2017, was the scene of much action relating to the Indian subcontinent and Asia Pacific region, as lawmakers moved to codify Washington's Asia pivot, a strategy that includes strengthening New Delhi's military muscle implicitly aimed at countering Beijing's expansionism.

Sponsored by George Holding and Ami Bera (House India Caucus chairs) and the chair and ranking member of House foreign affairs committee, Ed Royce and Elliot Engel, respectively, the amendment (enhancing defense and security cooperation with India) seeks to promote greater defence trade and encourage additional military cooperation between the US and India . It encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of technology, and maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the centrepiece of the military tie-up between the two countries.

"Given the dynamic nature of the Indo-Pacific region and its importance to our own national security and future economic growth, now is the time to build on recent successes and propel the US-India strategic partnership forward," US Congressman Holding said while moving the amendment, that, among other things, requires the administration to take "such actions as may be necessary to recognise India's status as a major defence partner of the US".

"The secretary of defence and secretary of state shall jointly, on an annual basis, conduct an assessment of the extent to which India possesses strategic operational capabilities to support military operations of mutual interest between the US and India," the amendment advised, while calling for "approving and facilitating the transfer of advanced technology , consistent with US conventional arms transfer policy, to support combined military planning with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness missions".

The bill is by no means law yet. A similar bill, introduced by Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, and cosponsored by Senator Marco Rubio, is making it way through Senate, and after the two versions of the larger NDAA are reconciled, it will go to the White House for President Obama's signature of approval. However, the omnibus $602 billion NDAA also contains severe unrelated strictures on Pakistan and recommends restrictions on the country that the US administration is not entirely comfortable with.


Expressing frustration with Pakistan's failure to crack down on terrorist groups, lawmakers moved to squeeze military aid for Pakistan, including blocking a $450 million tranche, unless certain conditions are met.




The amendments now require the Pentagon to certify that Pakistan is conducting military operations to disrupt the Haqqani network, not letting the network use North Waziristan as a safe haven, actively coordinate with Afghanistan's government to fight the network along their border, and certify Pakistan is not using its military or any funds or equipment provided by the United States to persecute minority groups.




NATO, a pillar of the Cold War




The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO was one of the pillars of the Cold War, bringing together the United States and its European allies into a political and military alliance as they fought the Communists under the USSR-led Warsaw Pact. After the Cold War and dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, NATO's relevance has shifted marginally to promoting democracy, resolution of disputes, and crisis-management. In 2010, NATO brought out a strategic concept, which defines its core tasks as: collective defence, crisis-management and cooperative security. As of today, it has 28 member nations, including France, Germany, the UK, Turkey and Canada.
 

HariPrasad-1

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2016
Messages
9,574
Likes
21,019
Country flag
Wer should reject it even if it is offered. We can not afford to spoil our relations with Russia. We can not allow our foreign policy to be acted as in the way US want.
 

Zebra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2011
Messages
6,060
Likes
2,303
Country flag
Wer should reject it even if it is offered. We can not afford to spoil our relations with Russia. We can not allow our foreign policy to be acted as in the way US want.
Italy is also a NATO member.

And Italy already has their fighter aircrafts projects with Russia, EU and US.

If I am not wrong.
 

Zebra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2011
Messages
6,060
Likes
2,303
Country flag
^^
When Russians joined with Italy, at that time not a single DFI zombies realize that Italy is also a NATO member.

Hance Russians must stay from them.

Very typical mindset ...............!
 

raja696

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2010
Messages
1,020
Likes
1,468
India should use USA make in India policy to manufacture there aircrafts and supply them at cheaper rates to the countries like taiwan which used to buy same products directly from USA.

Infact we should do so to all south china sea countries against china.

Can any one tell how much could be the cost variation , say for suppose an f16 manufactured in INDIA vs Usa production from scratch (not just assembly).

To counter china, the status of weapons equipment manufacturer (made in India ) for all south china countries is enough(look east policy). Which does not disturb balance in asia as well as Russia dont have to be worried. Even russia can invest in such make in India ventures
. No need to be a nato like member.
 
Last edited:

Zebra

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2011
Messages
6,060
Likes
2,303
Country flag
India should use USA make in India policy to manufacture there aircrafts and supply them at cheaper rates to the countries like taiwan which used to buy same products directly from USA.

Infact we should do so to all south china sea countries against china.

Can any one tell how much could be the cost variation , say for suppose an f16 manufactured in INDIA vs Usa production from scratch (not just assembly).

To counter china, the status of weapons equipment manufacturer (made in India ) for all south china countries is enough(look east policy). Which does not disturb balance in asia as well as Russia dont have to be worried. Even russia can invest in such make in India ventures
. No need to be a nato like member.
Boeing India will make them in India, if I am not wrong.
 

Bahamut

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2015
Messages
2,740
Likes
2,258
There is no need for a formal alliance, sinces we will not be able milk China & Russia. Plus most people in India will not welcome foreign military bases and it will be a PR disasater for government and turn our policy upside down.
 

Navnit Kundu

Pika Hu Akbarrr!!
Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
1,395
Likes
3,098
India should use USA make in India policy to manufacture there aircrafts and supply them at cheaper rates to the countries like taiwan which used to buy same products directly from USA.

Infact we should do so to all south china sea countries against china.

Can any one tell how much could be the cost variation , say for suppose an f16 manufactured in INDIA vs Usa production from scratch (not just assembly).

To counter china, the status of weapons equipment manufacturer (made in India ) for all south china countries is enough(look east policy). Which does not disturb balance in asia as well as Russia dont have to be worried. Even russia can invest in such make in India ventures
. No need to be a nato like member.
Extremely well said. Anyway, Russia and US do co-operate in other theaters like Afghanistan. US directly buys equipment from Russia to provide to Afghan army, the US also calls on Russian air support to help, I remember a case of a broken Chinook which needed help, they called Russian Mi 26 without hesitation. These are mature countries with pragmatic policies, they are bound to collaborate with India against China as even Russia is starting to sweat about Chinese hegemony. I think, if US is willing to transfer technology to India to manufacture F16 for Taiwan, Russia wont mind becoming a JV partner in such a project, maybe they can supply raw material and other things. It's good money and it serves their national interest.
 

Navnit Kundu

Pika Hu Akbarrr!!
Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
1,395
Likes
3,098
There is no need for a formal alliance, sinces we will not be able milk China & Russia. Plus most people in India will not welcome foreign military bases and it will be a PR disasater for government and turn our policy upside down.
Right. But this is not a formal alliance. It is purely a US-centric move which allows US and NATO the flexibility to interact more freely with India without breaching their own NATO laws. It has got nothing to do with India in particular. For example, their NATO law prohibits the sharing of intel with non-NATO members, so if US wants to share intel with India over SCS for interoperability in wars and exercises, they had to amend their own laws.
 

no smoking

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
5,000
Likes
2,302
Country flag
India should use USA make in India policy to manufacture there aircrafts and supply them at cheaper rates to the countries like taiwan which used to buy same products directly from USA.
You do realise that these kind of military purchases are the way their payment for future American military protection.
And check Taiwanese website, they really don't believe "make in india".

Infact we should do so to all south china sea countries against china.
Before you sell them weapons, you have to finance anything you sell.

Can any one tell how much could be the cost variation , say for suppose an f16 manufactured in INDIA vs Usa production from scratch (not just assembly).
American facility already built more than 4500 F-16, all the fixed costs were amortized and the workers' productivity reach the highest level, so no one can beat them on cost.

If you want to rebuild it in India including all the components production? I will be surprised if the price can be cheaper than F-22. basically, what you ask is bring India's whole industrial capacity to South Korea's level or even beyond.

To counter china, the status of weapons equipment manufacturer (made in India ) for all south china countries is enough(look east policy).
They just can't wait that long. When India's F16 gets ready, it will be outdate long time ago.

Which does not disturb balance in asia as well as Russia dont have to be worried. Even russia can invest in such make in India ventures.
Only problem is American won't allow it.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top