An Emerging Alliance with India

[Adam's Apple]

An Emerging Alliance with India
By Michael Barone for U.S. News & World Report
July 1, 2005

You didn't see it in the headlines this week, but it's likely to be more important in the long run than many things that received much more notice. The "it" in question is the New Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship signed Monday by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee. This agreement provides for increased cooperation on research and development of high-tech weaponry and joint and combined training exercises.\

This is big news—a lot bigger news than (to name a couple of items that got more attention recently) German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's expression of hope that things will turn out well in Iraq, or Sen. Joseph Biden's call for 1,500 French gendarmes to help us there. A few European troops or trainers more or less are not going to make a difference in the outcome in Iraq. But our emerging alliance with India—and that is what it is, whatever label you put on it—can make an enormous difference over the next long generation in Asia.

for full article:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_050701.htm

 

[onedomino]

The depth and significance of the Indian-US defense alliance remains to be seen. India is about to purchase 126 fighter jets to update its Air Force. It is concerned over the recent US sale of F16 aircraft to Pakistan. Will the Indian Air Force purchase French, Russian, or American defense technology? The direction of the Indian purchase will indicate with who they think their long-term interests are best served. The US has offered F16 and F18 fighters, and Patriot missile systems. In recent years, India has selected Russian built aircraft; especially the SU30. Due to Indian nuclear weapons testing and deployment, the US had previously prevented India from purchasing American built fighter jets. America has given up using trade restrictions to curtail Indian nuke weapons development. In the American effort to contain the Chinese and influence South Asia, it would be beneficial to have a high-tech, US equipped, Indian Air Force on China's southern border.

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/2056.asp