08
Oct
he past decade has been a period of constant, strategic flux for Asia. Such changes have been driven partly by the rise of India Tand China, and the relative decline of the US has also had its own impact on the Asian security balance. Of enormous concern is the rise of China, particularly its rapid military modernisation, which has created uncertainty in the region. This in turn has led to the strengthening of India-United States relations. The US Rebalance to Asia, in the backdrop of its military engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq, relies heavily on a strong India that is able to serve as a net security provider in the region. This has led to India and the US strengthening their defence ties. A corollary pattern is that of India diversifying its military procurement: while there used to be a predominant dependence on Soviet supply, India is beginning to look to the US as a favoured partner.
In the current context of shifting power equations, this paper argues that Indo-US defence partnership is not only about defence commerce; rather, it flows from the rationale of geopolitics. This essay examines the changes in the security environment in the post-Cold War era which have led to the ebbs and flows in India-United States defence partnership. While arguing that both India and the US have a huge potential to leverage each other’s strengths to expand defence cooperation, the paper analyses the structural, legal and policy challenges that impede deeper cooperation. Possible cooperation in the realm of air power diplomacy and aircraft carriers is also discussed. The paper concludes by arguing that the US would continue to play a central role in Asian geopolitics and thus would be a critical player in bolstering India’s military preparedness. Strategic interests of both countries lie at the intersection of a military-strong India, and the complementary security goals of America of a stable and multipolar Indo-Pacific.
Access and download the full ORF Occasional Paper #72 at: http://www.orfonline.org/cms/export/orfonline/modules/occasionalpaper/attachments/OccasionalPaper_72_1442379157680.pdf