China’s Worst Nightmare: Is a U.S.- India Military Alliance Brewing?

[Paranoid Android]

Washington and New Delhi are getting a lot more serious about military-to-military ties. As the United States and India become more wary of an increasingly assertive China, the two countries are gradually edging closer together.
On May 16, American and Indian officials met for a “maritime security dialogue” in New Delhi. “The dialogue covered issues of mutual interest, including exchange of perspectives on maritime security development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region as well as prospects for further strengthening cooperation between India and the United States in this regard,” stated an Indian Ministry of External Affairs press release.

Washington and New Delhi are also close to formalizing a historic military cooperation agreement hazily called the “Logistics Support Agreement” — or LSA. The agreement would allow the two militaries to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repairs and conducting operations.

American and Indian officials agreed to hold the summit during an April visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Despite regular meetings and joint military training, the United States and India are not allies in any formal sense. India was officially unaligned in the Cold War but kept close relations with the Soviet Union — and the United States backed arch-rival Pakistan.

But there is a slow yet historic realignment underway. First of all, the United States and India are both growing warier of China’s rise as a major regional military power. Second, the U.S.-Pakistani relationship has deteriorated during the course of America’s decade-and-a-half-long war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan is the world’s top recipient of Chinese weapons.

In an April profile in The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that U.S. Pres. Barack Obama “privately questions why Pakistan, which he believes is a disastrously dysfunctional country, should be considered an ally of the U.S. at all.”

Then there’s the LSA, which — if signed — could enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries to an unprecedented level.

Adm. Harry Harris, chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command, told Congress in February that America and India are negotiating the LSA, another agreement called the CISMOA that would allow secure communications when both militaries operate together, and a third agreement regarding the exchange of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data.

“We have not gotten to the point of signing them with India, but I think we’re close,” Harris told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.



During the last few months, the proposed agreements has come closer to being a reality. “Secretary Carter and I agreed in principle to conclude a logistics exchange memorandum of agreement in the coming months,” Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said during Carter’s April visit.

These developments build on previous moves between the Indian and U.S. governments. In 2012, then Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed Carter — at the time his deputy — to head an initiative to widen the scope of mil-to-mil cooperation between the two counties. The result was the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

“The DTTI is not a treaty or a law,” the initiative’s website states. “It is a flexible mechanism to ensure that senior leaders from our nations are persistently focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with growing our defense partnership.”

Through DTTI, American and Indian officials have discussed sharing technology and boosting business ties between the two countries’ defense industries.

During Carter’s April visit, he discussed the possibility of sharing technology to help New Delhi build its first domestically produced aircraft carrier INSVishal — a deal the two countries have been negotiating through DTTI under the auspice of the “Aircraft Carrier Working Group.”
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/th...mare-us-india-military-alliance-brewing-16301

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

Chinese and Pakistani members ki bolti band ho gayi.

 

[cirr]

So India is turning itself into America's latest colony？

 

[DavidSling]

Washington and New Delhi are getting a lot more serious about military-to-military ties. As the United States and India become more wary of an increasingly assertive China, the two countries are gradually edging closer together.
On May 16, American and Indian officials met for a “maritime security dialogue” in New Delhi. “The dialogue covered issues of mutual interest, including exchange of perspectives on maritime security development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region as well as prospects for further strengthening cooperation between India and the United States in this regard,” stated an Indian Ministry of External Affairs press release.

Washington and New Delhi are also close to formalizing a historic military cooperation agreement hazily called the “Logistics Support Agreement” — or LSA. The agreement would allow the two militaries to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repairs and conducting operations.

American and Indian officials agreed to hold the summit during an April visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Despite regular meetings and joint military training, the United States and India are not allies in any formal sense. India was officially unaligned in the Cold War but kept close relations with the Soviet Union — and the United States backed arch-rival Pakistan.

But there is a slow yet historic realignment underway. First of all, the United States and India are both growing warier of China’s rise as a major regional military power. Second, the U.S.-Pakistani relationship has deteriorated during the course of America’s decade-and-a-half-long war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan is the world’s top recipient of Chinese weapons.

In an April profile in The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that U.S. Pres. Barack Obama “privately questions why Pakistan, which he believes is a disastrously dysfunctional country, should be considered an ally of the U.S. at all.”

Then there’s the LSA, which — if signed — could enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries to an unprecedented level.

Adm. Harry Harris, chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command, told Congress in February that America and India are negotiating the LSA, another agreement called the CISMOA that would allow secure communications when both militaries operate together, and a third agreement regarding the exchange of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data.

“We have not gotten to the point of signing them with India, but I think we’re close,” Harris told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.



During the last few months, the proposed agreements has come closer to being a reality. “Secretary Carter and I agreed in principle to conclude a logistics exchange memorandum of agreement in the coming months,” Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said during Carter’s April visit.

These developments build on previous moves between the Indian and U.S. governments. In 2012, then Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed Carter — at the time his deputy — to head an initiative to widen the scope of mil-to-mil cooperation between the two counties. The result was the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

“The DTTI is not a treaty or a law,” the initiative’s website states. “It is a flexible mechanism to ensure that senior leaders from our nations are persistently focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with growing our defense partnership.”

Through DTTI, American and Indian officials have discussed sharing technology and boosting business ties between the two countries’ defense industries.

During Carter’s April visit, he discussed the possibility of sharing technology to help New Delhi build its first domestically produced aircraft carrier INSVishal — a deal the two countries have been negotiating through DTTI under the auspice of the “Aircraft Carrier Working Group.”
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/th...mare-us-india-military-alliance-brewing-16301

Israel - India - United States trio?

 

[@RV]

So India is turning itself into America's latest colony？

Nice attempt at trolling But,
We are too big to become a colony and too ambitious to allow unlike out western neighbour who was playing in USA's lap once and now playing in China's lap. And for your kind information, we are doing agreements on equality basis and do not need some aid for which we will dance on their tunes.

 

[Kamikaze Pilot]

@DavidSling,

What's your nationality and ethnicity? Are you Israeli?

 

[hussain0216]

Come on china,

See the writing on the wall, beware of the threat from this new india-U.S-Israel trio

Time to get your weapons moving and make some aggressive choices

 

[Akasa]

hollow warning without any action

Sort of like the passage that you just wrote?

 

[vsdave2302]

Sort of like the passage that you just wrote?

No it is not a warning. Perhaps you do not know the meaning of warning (Understandably so). It is a scenario. I want Chinese naval vessel to come and intercept Indian or US warship. The game shall be interesting. However it seems that china is losing her power even to issue warning (This is where it is very good at). forget about any action. We are doing exercise and exploring the oil.in south china sea. China must at least issue some warning now. It seems that Chinese warning has dried up since Modi came to power. I think Pakistan is better here. At least their leaders issue some nuclear attack warning every few days. I can expect much better from china.

 

[Akasa]

No it is not a warning. Perhaps you do not know the meaning of warning (Understandably so). It is a scenario. I want Chinese naval vessel to come and intercept Indian or US warship. The game shall be interesting. However it seems that china is losing her power even to issue warning (This is where it is very good at). forget about any action. We are doing exercise and exploring the oil.in south china sea. China must at least issue some warning now. It seems that Chinese warning has dried up since Modi came to power. I think Pakistan is better here. At least their leaders issue some nuclear attack warning every few days. I can expect much better from china.

Oh, I could care less how you label the thesis you just wrote. I'm merely emphasizing the last part of your statement: "without action".

 

[vsdave2302]

Oh, I could care less how you label the thesis you just wrote. I'm merely emphasizing the last part of your statement: "without action".

You may emphasize anything but action of china has disappointed me. This was not expected from china. No action and even no warning.

 

[Dil Pakistan]

Washington and New Delhi are getting a lot more serious about military-to-military ties. As the United States and India become more wary of an increasingly assertive China, the two countries are gradually edging closer together.
On May 16, American and Indian officials met for a “maritime security dialogue” in New Delhi. “The dialogue covered issues of mutual interest, including exchange of perspectives on maritime security development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region as well as prospects for further strengthening cooperation between India and the United States in this regard,” stated an Indian Ministry of External Affairs press release.

Washington and New Delhi are also close to formalizing a historic military cooperation agreement hazily called the “Logistics Support Agreement” — or LSA. The agreement would allow the two militaries to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repairs and conducting operations.

American and Indian officials agreed to hold the summit during an April visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Despite regular meetings and joint military training, the United States and India are not allies in any formal sense. India was officially unaligned in the Cold War but kept close relations with the Soviet Union — and the United States backed arch-rival Pakistan.

But there is a slow yet historic realignment underway. First of all, the United States and India are both growing warier of China’s rise as a major regional military power. Second, the U.S.-Pakistani relationship has deteriorated during the course of America’s decade-and-a-half-long war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan is the world’s top recipient of Chinese weapons.

In an April profile in The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that U.S. Pres. Barack Obama “privately questions why Pakistan, which he believes is a disastrously dysfunctional country, should be considered an ally of the U.S. at all.”

Then there’s the LSA, which — if signed — could enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Indian militaries to an unprecedented level.

Adm. Harry Harris, chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command, told Congress in February that America and India are negotiating the LSA, another agreement called the CISMOA that would allow secure communications when both militaries operate together, and a third agreement regarding the exchange of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data.

“We have not gotten to the point of signing them with India, but I think we’re close,” Harris told the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.



During the last few months, the proposed agreements has come closer to being a reality. “Secretary Carter and I agreed in principle to conclude a logistics exchange memorandum of agreement in the coming months,” Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said during Carter’s April visit.

These developments build on previous moves between the Indian and U.S. governments. In 2012, then Defense Secretary Leon Panetta directed Carter — at the time his deputy — to head an initiative to widen the scope of mil-to-mil cooperation between the two counties. The result was the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

“The DTTI is not a treaty or a law,” the initiative’s website states. “It is a flexible mechanism to ensure that senior leaders from our nations are persistently focused on the opportunities and challenges associated with growing our defense partnership.”

Through DTTI, American and Indian officials have discussed sharing technology and boosting business ties between the two countries’ defense industries.

During Carter’s April visit, he discussed the possibility of sharing technology to help New Delhi build its first domestically produced aircraft carrier INSVishal — a deal the two countries have been negotiating through DTTI under the auspice of the “Aircraft Carrier Working Group.”
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/th...mare-us-india-military-alliance-brewing-16301

Even if it is true, it will be nothing more than a pie in the sky; and the reasons are pretty simple:

1). The first question that needs to be answered is: What this alliance is designed (or likely) to achieve? Not much really....US has a desire to squeeze China in SCS. India is in no position to do that. Maximum, India can provide bases for US Navy. India will never even dream of allowing US to launch any covert or open operations against China from its soil. The price for such a misadventure will be too high for India.

Gawader is a great alternative for China anyway.

Therefore, I would like to know what are the strategic and non-strategic objectives of this alliance?

2). India is well within an arms reach of both China and Pakistan. Any anti-China move from India will be easily retaliated via covert intelligence operations, or any other means. Pakistan has huge knowledge of conducting ops inside India, and so does China. If the two join hands with a single purpose, India will be on its knees very soon.

3). China also holds the veto in Security council. Therefore, China has a powerful diplomatic muscle as well. India cannot afford this because of its many strategic objectives that are linked to UN.

4). A hot war with China is clearly out of the question for India. This is too big a risk to take.

5). Last, the money issue. Who is going to pay for all these adventures. US does not have that much money left in the coffers to spend around the world in misadventures.

Any thing else????

 

[Akasa]

You may emphasize anything but action of china has disappointed me. This was not expected from china. No action and even no warning.

Pray tell; how would you expect a country to respond to a military exercise? Washington didn't so much as object when Chinese vessels sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Alaskan coast.

 

[vsdave2302]

Pray tell; how would you expect a country to respond to a military exercise? Cool heads prevailed in Washington even as Chinese vessels sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Alaskan coast.

I agree with you but china has done that in past. Search the other thread on topic. China has objected to the excercise. China has opposed all activeties in south china sea which are perfectly legitimate. They have issued warnings and have done all nonsense. Now it seems to be loosing the power to do so.

 

[Akasa]

I agree with you but china has done that in past. Search the other thread on topic. China has objected to the excercise. China has opposed all activeties in south china sea which are perfectly legitimate. They have issued warnings and have done all nonsense. Now it seems to be loosing the power to do so.

Note the differences in the nature of activities carried out by other nations. China does not seem to care just so long as the other country does not establish a long-term presence in the area or interfere with its plans to construct more infrastructure. India's military exercise fits the above bill.