Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'US intends to protect India' that was published in Newsband

US intends to protect India

A bunch of proposals amounting to about ₹46,000 crore approved by the Defence Acquisition Council is likely to boost defence cooperation with the U.S. Among the approvals is one for 24 Multi-Role Helicopters with anti-submarine warfare capability for the Indian Navy. These are likely to be procured under a government-to-government deal with the U.S.

A major decision is the procedural approval for 111 Naval Utility Helicopters, costing over ₹21,000 crore. The U.S. has a major interest here as its companies are in the race for NUHs as well as for 114 fighter jets. The timing of these decisions is important as they come just before the first 2+2 dialogue between India and the U.S. on September 6.

The U.S. strategy of strengthening defence cooperation reflected in India’s elevation as a Major Defence Partner. India is at the heart of the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific strategy; the U.S. will deepen strategic partnership and support our leadership role in Indian Ocean security and the broader region.

America could place limits of India’s defence cooperation with Russia. India & USA with or without 2+2 have progressed productively in their strategic partnership institutionally since nearly two decades all the while with no written agreements & protocols. So even if there were no written agreements this time the strategic partnership will go on regardless.

China has inducted a new aircraft carrier as part of its naval expansion to counter the military dominance of the United States in the Western Pacific. China’s second aircraft carrier, Type 002, being built at Dalian shipyard, has started the second phase of sea trials. Liaoning — China’s only aircraft carrier is bought from Ukraine. The Liaoning underwent 10 sea trials starting. The second carrier, which is likely to be named CNS Shandong, shows a step-by-step advancement of China’s ability to build aircraft carriers in ocean space. The Type 002, however, compares poorly with much larger U.S. aircraft carriers. The U.S. has deployed up to three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Western Pacific alone, not far from China.

It is likely that the US military power will be further enhanced in the Indo-Pacific under the Trump administration, which is already engaged in a trade war with China. The head of the newly formed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Admiral Philip Davidson has asserted that he will work to recalibrate U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure “continued combat readiness of assigned forces in the western Pacific (and) developing an updated footprint that accounts for China’s rapid modernisation”. “Chinese government seeks to overturn the established international order that has kept the peace in the region since World War II and allowed Asian countries to develop”— a perfect justification for further U.S. military expansion.

The Type 003 that is under construction in Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, is being developed on the same lines as the U.S. Navy’s super-carriers. By 2020, the Chinese navy will have 351 warships but will be no match to the heavy arsenal of the USINDOPACOM spread across a string of military bases in the Indo-Pacific.

The US has giant aircraft carriers - all powered by nuclear energy, numbering seven. China is said to possess ship destroying missiles, which can be a threat to US aircraft carriers. China wants to secure its trade routes all over the world.

The United States is trying to discourage India from buying large defence systems from Russia, an action that might attract sanctions. India is planning to buy five S-400 Triumf air defence systems for around $4.5 billion from Russia. Tina Kaidanow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, who had visited India said, “The Government of India might be potentially contemplating purchase of large defence systems from the Russians. We want to work with all of our partners to help them identify and avoid engaging in any potentially sanctionable activity.”

One thing is clear. Trump regime seeks to ‘protect India’.