Any Mention Of Indian – Russian Arms Purchases By USA Will Annoy India No Ends : Americans Should Not Broach The Subject During 2+2 Meet
It will be a big mistake on part of USA to even broach the questions about several major defence deals inked with Russia at the upcoming 2-plus-2 dialogue in Washington. Such points raised during the meet will not only annoy India no ends but will also jeopardize the future progress of Indo US Cooperation.
India and the US are expected to sign a vital defence technology sharing pact but there is a sense of resentment in Washington over the lack of any major defence deal being signed in the past three years. Even on the technology sharing pact, last-minute consultations are still on. several high-value purchases from the US have remained pending amid budgetary constraints.
On the other hand big-ticket contracts with Russia have been made, with both parties thumbing their nose at the so calked sanctions placed by the Americans. India has made special arrangements to route money through to Russia for several big-ticket items on the agenda.
Why is it like this ? Because the Russians have realized quite some time back that they cannot dictate to India any more but can only carry out commercial negotiations at the most. Whereas Americans have yet to realize this fact. So they throw tantrums, issue threats of CAATSA and other types of sanctions and in the end just sulk. The Americans because of their high headedness will keep wondering at the message coming out from Delhi ‘s action that though the budget is strained but on the other hand, the money will keep heading to Russia as they provide better deals.
Over the past three years, India has hammered through tough US regulations to make them sell advanced equipment like the armed Sea Guardian drone for the three services.
The last big deals signed with the US were in 2016, with the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route being used. The Indian Army had then placed orders worth $700 million for 145 of the M 777 Ultra-Light Howitzers that have since being inducted and are suitable for mountain warfare. Besides, the Navy had placed an order worth $1 billion for P8I maritime aircraft.
However these days while the US has given clearance for a variety of defence items, orders have not been placed by the services. Officials pointed out that in this period, India has signed up multi-billion dollar deals with Russia, including the $5.4-billion deal for S 400 air defence missiles, the $2.1-billion deal for four frigates and the $3-billion contract to lease a nuclear submarine for the Navy.
While the case for purchase of 30 drones – 10 each for the three services – has moved through the US system, there seems to be reluctance among the Indian armed forces to proceed. Though the Navy has been keen to proceed with the program, the Air Force and Army have their budgets tied up in existing plans, leaving little scope to go ahead on the program.
The two deals that are close to getting inked are the Poseidon P8I maritime aircraft valued at over $3 billion and the $ 2.6 billion deal for 24 naval multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, both being channeled through the FMS route. So the Americans better keep India in goid humour and better not risk annoying it.
