Visit By American Defence Minister
The US President is sending his Defence Minister Shri Lloyd Austin on a visit to India this month. This indicates the strong desire of the United States to have more friendly ties with India. It also indicates the urgency to come up with a strategic policy to contain China.
Austin would become the first high-ranking member of President Biden’s cabinet to arrive in New Delhi. It comes close on the heels of the 2+2 ministerial-level dialogue with India that the outgoing Trump administration held.
What is more significant is the visit comes amid reports of a leaders’ meet of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) which the US somehow wants to be the foundation for its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The virtual summit meet of Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga was made known recently, courtesy PM Morrison.
Very early in the term, President Biden and his team consisting of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin reiterated Washington’s commitment in shaping the Indo-Pacific construct, removing doubts on the continuation of the engagement.
The upcoming visit of the Defence Minister will provide an opportunity to the United States to understand the assessment of Indian leadership of the World situation and the role of China that is seeking to expand its influence into the rest of the World.
Although India and China arrived at an understanding to disengage from the icy heights in Ladakh around Pangong Lake and troops stepped back, it is considered to be the first step in a series of measures that would translate into de-escalation of the situation that turned bloody last June.
Development in Chinese Occupied Ladakh and India’s ability to stand up to China during the 10-month period offers an insight to the rest of the world strategic community and the United States regarding the aggressive nature demonstrated by Beijing and India’s ability and resolve to counter it.
In February, President Biden had announced the setting up of a task force on China. “The task force will work quickly, drawing on civilian and military experts across the Department, to provide, within the next few months, recommendations to Secretary Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters. It will require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships.”
As late as last week, Biden pointed out that one of the key challenges for the United States was the “growing rivalry with China”, while on Sunday, Secretary Austin felt that China has been “very aggressive” and in some cases “coercive” in the region with some directed against the US allies.
Austin and his team hit the road running in what some described as ‘sprint effort’ to come up with a policy vis-à-vis China by May this year. The assessment is that China’s postures in the Indo-Pacific region go against the rules-based order through which nations in the area benefit.
Outlining the priority for United States defence forces, earlier this month Secretary Austin said: “We will ensure that our approach towards China is coordinated and synchronised across the enterprise, advance our priorities, integrated into domestic and foreign policy in a whole-of-government strategy, and strengthened by our alliances and partnership…”
India now fully understands the reason behind Beijing amassing troops in Occupied Tibet and also in Chinese Occupied Ladakh though no logical explanation has been offered by China. Its quite simple, China had become accustomed to Western appeasement for many years since Nixon. It had also taken India for granted. Now suddenly the new dispensation in New Delhi since 2014 has changed everything. India has stood up to China everywhere and matched its moves with firm resolve countermoves.
India-US ties in Defence are robust, since 2007, New Delhi signed pacts worth USD 21 billion with the latest acquisition of MH-60 Romeo helicopters and Apache attack helicopters. India has also been accorded Major Defence Partnership status. The United States is in talks with India for the sale of fighter jets for the Air Force and Navy which India is most likely to decline as they are too obsolete or too costly and do not meet the requirement. Yes, India may be interested in mid-air refuel aircraft,unarmed, unmanned aerial systems and more P8I LRMR aircrafts.
The visit would also offer to explain in detail to New Delhi the USA intent of its moves in the region both in regard to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Contours of the approach of the Biden administration to the pull-out plan of the last 2,500 troops stationed in Afghanistan by May 1 under the Trump administration-Taliban pact India in moulding its policy post withdrawal.
America ending its forever war is linked to India’s reactions and the apprehension in the United States that the uncertain atmosphere in Afghanistan would undo American efforts in the war-torn country.
Pakistan should definitely figure in the context of Afghanistan and China. However USA and UK and some if the Europeans should be very careful about equating or bracketing or hyphenating India with Pakistan. It will just spoil the Party. USA would not like if India starts equating it with Iran or North Korea in everything. its relations with India, especially on terrorism. India has been steadfast that terror and talks cannot go together and the recent announcement by the military on both sides to adhere to the ceasefire offers a small window for Pakistan to start behaving.
India’s concerns and its assessment of the situation in its immediate neighbourhood and in the region, especially the Indo-Pacific should provide the new administration in the United States through Secretary Austin to come up with a comprehensive all-encompassing plan. The visit will also clear all doubts of USA administration and USA politicians that they should never ever try and threaten India with any idiotic laws of theirs whether it is CAATSA or any other things. Indian Parliament makes its own laws and only they are applicable in India.
