Offer of FMS Route For Arms trade Along with CAATSA threat seems quite clownish
US Administration and US aerospace and Arms giant Companies are salivating for the huge market which India offers. Boeing has stated that it has received the go-ahead from the US government to offer its F-15EX fighter jet to the Indian air force. A senior American official had said that the government to government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route is now being offered to India to purchase cutting edge US technology.
However at the same time, threat of imposing of sanctions under CAATSA on India for buying weapons from Russia, is nothing less than a most clownish behaviour on part of the US Administration and US politicians. Its like cutting the very branch on which one is sitting.
On one hand, speaking at a press conference in Bangalore on the eve of the Aero-India show, Kelli Seybolt Deputy Under Secretary of the US Air Force, International Affairs, said that Washington was looking forward to the formal government communication from India to begin talks on the subject. Though, Indian MoD has not confirmed any formal offer if FMS route from the US defence ministry.
“FMS provides an opportunity to procure the most advanced fighting capabilities in the world and technologies with the level of transparency that is really unmatched by any other procurement path. We look forward to the formal government to government request from the government of India so that we can start the conversation about what the US fighters have to offer India as they look to choose their next fighter aircraft,” Seybolt said.
The MoD has already kick started the procedure for procurement of 114 fighters. It floated a tender in 2018 for the 114 aircraft which is to be built under the “Make in India plan” by a joint venture between an Indian company and a foreign original equipment manufacturer with technology sharing.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin from the US are competing with Sweden’s SAAB and France’s Dassault Aviation among others for the contract valued at about Rs 112000 crore. According to reports, Dassault Aviation which manufactures the Rafale that India is buying 36 of under a government to government deal, was a strong contender for the 114 aircraft deal.
So the ball is squarely in the US court, for their Companies to offer the best product at the most reasonable bid.
Last month the Indian government gave its nod for 83 Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force that is to be made by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This also means orders of a large number of engines to the USA.7
Then in a show of total immaturity, also speaking at the same press conference, Donald L. Heflin, Charge d’Affaires in the US embassy in New Delhi said Washington was urging all its allies and partners against buying defence equipment from Russia as it risks triggering sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). This in spite of knowing all about the deep friendly relationship between India and Russia. Also India is neither an ally nor a partner of USA, it is a friend.
Heflin’s comments have come within days of the Biden administration taking office in Washington. It was mainly the Democrats who had pushed through CAATSA in 2017 aiming to penalize Russia for its war against Ukraine, aiding the Syrian government and its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.
So to please USA, India is neither going to dump Russia, a very trusted friend, nor endanger our defence planning by cancelling the S400 deal. We also don’t get dictated by any other country on any matter.
“We urge all our allies and partners to forego transactions with Russia,” Heflin said adding that such moves would risk triggering sanctions under CAATSA passed by the Congress. Berlin saheb, please go ahead and ask you Congress to do what they want, we shall see.
Imagine USA diplomat making such statements, when his country is trying to pripoject itself as a “ RELIABLE” defence partner !!! Earlier, in his opening remarks, Heflin had pitched the US as a reliable defence partner of India which offered “ the world’s best defence equipment.”
“India plays a key role in the Indo Pacific region and our cooperation advances our shared vision of a rules based international order that promotes the prosperity and security of all countries,” he said.
The US designating India as a major defence partner in 216 “marked a milestone in India-US defence cooperation expanding the range and depth of our defence ties.”
Indian defence purchases that were almost zero in the year 2000, currently stand between 140000 Crores to 150000 Crores. Why does USA want to lose this kind of market buy trying to dictate to India ……really foolish behavior.
