USA Will Fail Miserably If It Tries To Coerce India to Provide Military Base Against Iran
There is a saying that where Wise fear to step in, the fools jump in at once. Thus some West Asian Strategists has already claimed that Americans Will be coercing India to provide military for operations against Iran.
The chap has come to this ridiculous conclusion just because after the firefight between US and Iran in Baghdad wherein Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with US President Donald Trump. Both Modi and Trump have rightly indicated willingness to cooperate in areas of mutual interest. However this does not mean that USA can dare to try and coerce India.
Though Washington may try to involve India in case of any escalation with Iran by asking for refueling facilities etc. US President Donald Trump has already prepared his base when he mentioned that murdered Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was involved in plotting terror attacks in New Delhi.
“Washington can certainly rake up the issue of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA), and ask India to help under the auspices of the agreement,” opined Kabir Taneja, a fellow at Delhi based Observer Research Foundation and author of ‘The ISIS Peril’.
However now things are quite different in New Dekhi. India knows how to look after its own interest. Asian affairs will surely concern us more. Accordingly as a first step India has already asjed both USA and Iran to show restrain. Also India is very clear that LEMOA exists only when the facilities are required for exercises and peace time deployments. It will not be applicable for hostilities especially against countries with whom we have our own friendly relations. Any Country considered as enemy by USA Administration does not automatically becomes an enemy of India.
The Indian Foreign Ministry remained tight-lipped about the comment while Iran’s Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni categorically denied the allegations made by Trump.
On Tuesday, the Indian foreign ministry mentioned that Modi, in a phone call, expressed his desire to continue to work with President Trump in all areas of mutual interest while the US side has emphasised that the leaders discussed ways to “further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership in 2020, and they also reviewed regional security matters”.
Coming to LEMOA, it was signed in August 2016, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA) is one of four foundational agreements that the U.S. signs with its allies or close partners to facilitate interoperability between militaries and the sale of high end technology. It provides for logistics support and services between the armed forces of India and the US. Though both sides know that it is not applicable for waging war over a third country.
So it is highly unlikely that Trump will ask Modi to use Indian facilities under the LEMOA in case of a further escalation of tension with Iran, especially when Pakistan and Afghanistan have categorically stated that their soil cannot be used against anyone.
“They can certainly rake up the issue of LEMOA, but, if that happens, it would only be to test India’s commitment to its partnership with Washington,” Taneja added.
The agreement clearly states that besides providing logistical support, “any other cooperative efforts shall only be provided on a case-by-case basis through prior mutual consent of the parties”.
It is estimated that there are over 65,000 American military personnel currently deployed in West Asia and Afghanistan. Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, are the countries from where US could possibly retaliate in case of Iran’s response to the killing of its commanders recently. Though these countries should know unlike the SCUD armed Iraq of Saddam Hussein, Iran has modern long range very accurate missiles to hit back. What is more important is the willingness of Iran to hit back in self defence at US military bases. It has already done so against bases in Iraq.
Already the response from US allies indicates that they are not comfortable in escalating tensions in the region.
Local media reported that Saudi Arabia was “not consulted” by Washington before the attack. Bahrain, where the Naval Forces Central Command of the US is located, is also reportedly keen to avoid further violence.
