Deciding his own priorities Trump had cancelled the earlier 2+2 meet with India and sent Pompeo his Foreign Minister to North Korea. Well India did one better by holding 2+2 with the Americans and simultaneously inviting the Iranian Minister for a 1+1 dialogue. As India and the United States attempt to build upon the inaugural 2+2 Dialogue, observers in both the countries and in other Capitals of the World would do well to keep these realities in mind.
After the second postponement of the inaugural 2+2 dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of India and the United States, several strategic commentators in India had talked about this rift in the India-US relationship. They had commented as to why it was failing.
This year Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a summit meet with the Chinese President Xi Jinping indicating that our bilateral relations are independent of relations of others or with others. Thus closer ties with China does not indicate a reversal in India’s strategic coordination with the US and others. It just shows that we are not tied to any apron string and nobody should take us for granted.
India also took action to further strengthen our relations with Russia, which had nothing to do with Trump’s relations with Moscow or with Moscow-Beijing relations.
Similarly coordination with Japan has continued, with a logistics agreement reportedly under negotiations and breakthrough ground and air exercises now being considered.
India’s defence ties with Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam have intensified, resulting in military exercises, training efforts and exchanges. A quadrilateral dialogue involving India, the US, Japan and Australia took place for the second time in two years. India has also signed new agreements for logistic support with the likes of France, Oman, Singapore and Indonesia, giving the Indian Navy far greater operational reach in the Indian Ocean.
As outcome of the inaugural 2+2 Dialogue a secure communications agreement known as COMCASA was signed, having been under negotiation for several years. This will result in the two militaries sharing direct communications through certain common type of equipment in service with both the countries like C17, C130 etc. However what India has ensured that this common communication remains restricted to these only. So what INS CHAKRA talks with NHQ will still remain a mystery to the Americans.
Tri-service military exercises, under discussion for months, have also been agreed to. These are nothing new, we already have been having such joint exercises with Russia. It has also been announced that there will be enhanced coordination with US Central Command. India must ensure that this coordination is done at Indian Southern Command level only till we get a HQ Southern Front of Ours. Yes our HQ IDS may liaise and do all the coordination with Pentagon on US defence innovation ecosystems etc.
Yes two sides need to have common agenda on the Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan and North Korea, among other matters, reflecting greater understanding of strategic worldviews.
Of course, important differences will remain, both on bilateral issues such as trade and immigration, and strategic perspectives on Russia, Iran, and Pakistan. This is only natural given the different geographies, histories and priorities of the two countries.
The fact that the 2+2 Dialogue finally materialised and included some noticeable deliverable, in contrast to the predictable outcomes in which India-US relations are regularly characterised, shows maturity on both sides.
Despite occasionally sharp differences, when US starts acting Cow boyish, India simply does not clutter US political considerations like the Chinese. At the same time, the fact that India becomes important to USA only when they start floundering means that India needs to demonstrate its own world views more often and more assertively.
