INDIA – U.S.: Indo-US Defence Cooperation Enters New Phase

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and minister for external affairs S Jaishankar welcomed US secretary of state Michael Pompeo and secretary of defence Mark Esper to New Delhi for the third annual India-US. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 26 October. The first edition of the 2+2 dialogue was held in Delhi in September 2018 after the mechanism was approved by prime minister Narendra Modi and president Donald Trump. The second edition of the dialogue took place in Washington in December 2019.

The new framework of the ministerial dialogue was initiated in order to provide a forward-looking vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries.

At the third Dialogue the ministers reiterated their commitment to further strengthening the India-US. partnership, celebrating more than seven decades of diplomatic engagement between India and the United States.

At the 2+2 talks, the two sides also vowed to ramp up their security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific amidst China’s growing economic and military clout in the region.

Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement

India and US signed five key agreements during the 2+2 India-US ministerial-level dialogue including Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), which will allow India real time access to precision data and topographical images from United States military satellites.

The joint statement applauded the significant step of the signing of BECA and welcomed enhanced maritime information sharing and maritime domain awareness between their navies and affirmed their commitment to build upon existing defence information-sharing at the joint-service and service-to-service levels and explore potential new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Joint Statement

A Joint Statement, issued after the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue said the two countries reiterated their commitment to maintaining a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region built on a rules-based international order.

The ministers welcomed the recent convening of second Australia-India-Japan-United states Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on October 6 and expressed their support for further strengthening Quad cooperation through expanded activities, including initiating a dialogue among the development organizations of partner countries.

The statement said that building on a strong record of peacekeeping cooperation, the ministers decided to expand joint capacity-building efforts with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific and to participate in multilateral peacekeeping training exercises.

The ministers expressed their support for sustainable, transparent, quality infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the dialogue, the ministers of the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence consultation and collaboration and to exploring opportunities to expand cooperative capacity-building efforts with partners across the region.

They also affirmed their commitment to pursue increased cooperation between the Indian military and US Central Command and Africa Command, including broader participation in exercises and conferences, so as to promote shared security interests.

A shared vision for Indo-Pacific and Global leadership

The ministers reiterated their commitment to maintaining a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on a rules-based international order, underpinned by ASEAN centrality, rule of law, sustainable and transparent infrastructure investment, freedom of navigation and overflight, mutual respect for sovereignty, and peaceful resolution of disputes.

They also emphasized that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of any nation in accordance with international law.

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QUAD

The ministers welcomed the recent convening of the Second Australia-India-Japan-United States Quadrilateral Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on October 6. They also welcomed the fact that these consultations would now be held annually. They expressed their support for further strengthening Quad cooperation through expanded activities, including initiating a dialogue among the development organizations of partner countries.

Peacekeeping

Building on a strong record of peacekeeping cooperation, the ministers decided to expand joint capacity-building efforts with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific and to participate in multilateral peacekeeping training exercises.

Afghanistan

The ministers discussed their shared interest in promoting a sovereign, peaceful, united, democratic, inclusive, stable and secure Afghanistan, including support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. They applauded India’s development assistance, and efforts to build trade linkages and multi-modal connectivity infrastructure for Afghanistan to enhance its regional connectivity to sustain growth and development over the long term.

India’s non-permanent membership in UNSC

The United States congratulated India for its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2021-2022. The ministers reiterated their commitment to work together in close coordination at the UNSC and in International Organizations. The US also reaffirmed its continued strong support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC as well as for India’s early entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Advancing the defence and security partnership

They commended what has become a comprehensive, resilient, and multi-faceted Major Defense Partnership (MDP) between India and the United States. They applauded the significant step of the signing of BECA. They also welcomed enhanced maritime information sharing and maritime domain awareness between their Navies and affirmed their commitment to build upon existing defence information-sharing at the joint-service and service-to-service levels and explore potential new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

They also affirmed their commitment to pursue increased cooperation between the Indian military and US Central Command and Africa Command, including broader participation in exercises and conferences, so as to promote shared security interests.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction at the ongoing progress in the implementation of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), including the expansion of secure communications capabilities to include secure video teleconference capabilities between their respective Navies, Armies and Air Forces as well as between respective foreign and defense ministries. The ministers welcomed the convening of the Military Cooperation Group (MCG) later this year to review bilateral military-to-military engagement including joint exercises, training and expert exchanges. They looked forward to the interaction between the Special Forces of India and the United States.

US-India-Japan Malabar Naval Exercise

The ministers welcomed the inclusion of the Royal Australian Navy in the US-India-Japan Malabar Naval Exercise scheduled to be held in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in November 2020. Highlighting the importance of deepening maritime cooperation and the growing sophistication of US-India naval cooperation, the Ministers welcomed the PASSEX carried out by the Navies of both countries. They also looked forward to the convening of the next edition of the Tri-Services Amphibious Tiger Triumph HADR Exercise and Army Exercises Yudh Abhyas and Vajra Prahar in 2021. The US. welcomed India’s co-hosting of the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) and Senior Enlisted Leader Forum (SELF) in 2023.

Defence Industries

The ministers decided to work together to realize the development of their respective defence industries. Acknowledging India’s contributions to the global supply chain of major defence platforms and commitment to defence innovation, the Ministers reiterated the importance of Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) and stated their intention to fast track projects under DTTI. They noted with satisfaction the signing of a Statement of Intent (SoI) at the 10th DTTI meeting to strengthen dialogue on defence technology cooperation on several specific DTTI projects as well as a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for identification and development of joint projects. India looked forward to the participation by the US Government and defence industry at the upcoming Aero-India in February 2021.

Recognizing the importance of cooperation in defence innovation, the Ministers welcomed the inaugural meeting between the Indian Defence Innovation Organization (DIO-iDEX) and US Defence Innovation United (DIU) in July 2020. They also looked forward to the inaugural Industrial Security Annex (ISA) Summit later this year which would further strengthen defence industrial cooperation between both countries.

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Counter-Terrorism

In a joint attack on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, India and the United States on Tuesday called on Pakistan to act on terrorism and not allow its territory to be used for terrorist attacks. The joint statement issued by both sides after the 2+2 meet in the national capital asked Pakistan to “expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators and planners of all such attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai, Uri, and Pathankot”.

The ministers denounced the use of terrorist proxies and strongly condemned cross border terrorism in all its forms. An emphasis was made for the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks, including al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).

Both sides have been exchanging information on sanctions and designations against terror groups and individuals. After the Pulwama terror attack of 2019, the US along with India’s allies like France helped to list Masood Azhar as a global terror at the UN. Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammad was responsible for the 2019 terror attack in which India lost more than 40 CRPF personnel.

India’s UNSC Bid

During a news conference after the 2+2 dialogue, the top US diplomat extended support to India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. Pompeo said that the ministerial meeting was a success, saying the bond between the two nations is built on the foundation of a longstanding friendship, partnership, and vibrant democratic traditions.

Meeting with Prime Minister

Pompeo and Esper called on prime minister Narendra Modi at the sidelines of 2+2 ministerial dialogue on 27 October. The leaders discussed several issues of regional and global concern on which the US and India collaborate, including COVID-19 response and shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also pledged to further strengthen the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership to better ensure the security and prosperity of both countries, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world.

They conveyed the US government’s continued interest in building stronger relations with India and working together to realise the shared vision and goals.

Comments

In the past two Dialogues the sides have discussed the Indo-Pacific region, regional and global threats, terrorism, disaster relief, training of UN peacekeepers, sustainable infrastructure and connectivity, maritime security, people-to-people ties, exchange programmes for Parliamentarians and young innovators, judicial cooperation, university research partnerships, bilateral Science and Technology arrangements, water management, oceans and space.

The talks took place at a time when India was locked in a tense standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and the Trump administration’s growing friction with Beijing over a host of issues including trade tariff and the Chinese military’s offensive manoeuvres in the South China Sea.

The situation in eastern Ladakh and China’s overall aggressive behaviour including in the Indo-Pacific region figured in the talks, although China was named as such in the joint statement issued after the talks.

Indo-US relations have bipartisan support in the US and the scheduling of the dialogue a few days ahead of the 3 November 3 presidential polls would not impact the talks.

Strategic hedging is the key to move forward in relationships with powerful countries like the USA. India and the USA must now strive to set the course for a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership.