Q.What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Model Answer
View this Question In PYQ RealmIntroduction
The strategic partnership between India and the United States on defence and security issues has witnessed significant strengthening, as demonstrated by their growing proximity in the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region. In 2014, the US emerged as India's top arms supplier, pushing Russia to the second position. Strategic hedging has become more challenging for India with the coexistence of the USA's importance for tackling the Pax-Sinica challenge and the rising hostility between the USA and Russia.
Body
Russia: A Traditional Partner
- Time-Tested Partnership: Russia has been a longstanding and reliable partner, with whom India shares wide-ranging and deep cooperation in the defence sector.
- Joint Development: Military-technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer-seller relationship to joint development and production of advanced defence technologies, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
- Diversification Needs: However, India desires to diversify its defence imports due to dissatisfaction with post-sales services, supply of spare parts, and maintenance offered by Russia.
The 21st century has seen the rise of an assertive China. China's bullying attitude is most evident in the Indo-Pacific region, where it challenges the sovereignty of ASEAN nations and threatens freedom of navigation. An engaging feature of the current global situation is the transformation of the Sino-Russian relationship from historical enmity to strategic entente, which impacts the strategic calculations of both India and the USA.
USA over Russia: Strategic Advantages
- Converging Interests: India has steadily developed crucial military ties with the US as their mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific are threatened by China's expansionist policies.
- Net Security Provider: The US supports India's desired role as a "net security provider" to preserve maritime transportation routes and maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Foundational Agreements: India and the US have signed four foundational defence agreements to enhance interoperability:
- LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement)
- COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement)
- BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement)
- GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement)
- Advanced Weaponry: The US has sold advanced platforms like Apache helicopters and P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, significantly enhancing India's defence capabilities.
- Multilateral Alignment: The QUAD (comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia) serves as an informal strategic forum with a shared objective to support a "free, open, and prosperous" Indo-Pacific.
- Strategic Constraints: However, US support comes with riders. Washington has frowned upon India's purchase of the Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system and threatened sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
Conclusion
Over the last two decades, Indo-US defence relations have strengthened due to sustained efforts from both nations to resolve differences and build protocols for working together against common threats. Nonetheless, India must carefully balance its relations with both defence partners to protect its strategic autonomy while addressing security concerns associated with China and Pakistan.