India-US Relations : News and Discussion- II

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 13 May 2016 23:11

Modi US visit: Legislation that will elevate India-US defence relationship on par with NATO introduced in Senate

[quote]Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit here next month, two top American senators have introduced a legislation which if passed by Congress would elevate the status of the Indo-US defence relationship on par with that of America's closest allies like NATO and Israel.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit here next month, two top American senators have introduced a legislation which if passed by Congress would elevate the status of the Indo-US defence relationship on par with that of America’s closest allies like NATO and Israel.

The US-India Defence Technology and Partnership Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn – co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus – yesterday.

The legislation has been sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for necessary action.

The legislation, a similar version of the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in March, institutionalises the US government’s focus on the US-India security relationship while sending a powerful signal to India that the US is a reliable and dependable defence partner.

“This bill supports strengthening our bilateral relationship, particularly in defence, and bestows upon India the status it deserves as a partner in promoting security in Asia and around the world,” Warner said in a statement issued by US India Business Council (USIBC) which applauded the bill.

As an important partner with a flourishing economy, India has huge potential as a market for US defence manufacturers, which support millions of American jobs, he said.

The bill puts India on par with America’s closest defence partners, including NATO member states and Israel, for the purpose of congressional defence sales notifications.

For the US, it encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of defence technology and maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

It urges the US government to enhance India’s military capabilities in the context of combined military planning, and promote co-production and co-development opportunities.

For India, it encourages the government to authorise combined military planning with the US for missions of mutual interest such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.

“The commercial and security imperatives for a robust defence partnership between the US and India could not be clearer. Defence trade has risen from some USD 300 million to over USD 14 billion over the last 10 years and there is every reason to expect it to rise further. USIBC strongly supports this bill and encourages widespread support in the Senate,” said USIBC president Mukesh Aghi.[/quote]

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 13 May 2016 23:17

Two notable things -

a) its a bipartisan bill (Warner - Dem, Cornyn - Rep)

b) its co-sponsored by the Senate Majority Whip (Cornyn).

rgosain · Post by **rgosain** » 14 May 2016 00:01

Viv S wrote:Two notable things -

a) its a bipartisan bill (Warner - Dem, Cornyn - Rep)

b) its co-sponsored by the Senate Majority Whip (Cornyn).

Hi Viv, the above statements by the the learned senators are eyewash and need to be read in conjunction with the following:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 921599.cms

As long as the US allows the PRC and Italy to stymie India's membership of the clubs such as the NSG and the MTCR, then we will have more of the above complaints. The question is what steps are being taken to dissolve bodies like the NSG or the MTCR if the US is to achieve the level of sales it wants together with the logistics agreement.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 14 May 2016 00:10

rgosain wrote:
Viv S wrote:Two notable things -

a) its a bipartisan bill (Warner - Dem, Cornyn - Rep)

b) its co-sponsored by the Senate Majority Whip (Cornyn).
Hi Viv, the above statements by the the learned senators are eyewash and need to be read in conjunction with the following:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/worl ... 921599.cms

As long as the US allows the PRC and Italy to stymie India's membership of the clubs such as the NSG and the MTCR, then we will have more of the above complaints. The question is what steps are being taken to dissolve bodies like the NSG or the MTCR if the US is to achieve the level of sales it wants together with the logistics agreement.

On the space topic, I am opposed to outsourcing, only because I have to sit at home without pay. As I am doing now.

Unless people find a win-win this is bound to happen. That is economic dynamics. I have to accept some sitting at home. There is bound to be plenty of push back from the US. Expect it.

What the senators have proposed is in the small area of defense. Not to be confused with space or IT.

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 14 May 2016 00:12

Viv S wrote:Modi US visit: Legislation that will elevate India-US defence relationship on par with NATO introduced in Senate

Jai Sri Krishna!

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 14 May 2016 00:16

And Pray bhy does India want to be a usless MuNNA like the porkis?

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 14 May 2016 05:25

Defence Logistics agreement won’t be signed during Modi’s US trip, little progress on other agreements

krishna_krishna · Post by **krishna_krishna** » 14 May 2016 14:21

^^^

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 14 May 2016 15:09

NRao wrote:Defence Logistics agreement won’t be signed during Modi’s US trip, little progress on other agreements

I am happy and this is what I wrote about a month back.

These agreements revise the Olaf Caroe-doctrine and that is a very, very big change, IMHO. It is also a significant change in India's foreign policy. This overwhelms the 'Peace Treaty' with the USSR and that treaty helped us to break-up Pakistan though we didn't initiate the break-up ourselves. These foundational agreements therefore must go well beyond that Soviet treaty.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 15 May 2016 15:51

No agreement that impinges in the slightest way our sovereignty,independence and non-military bloc status.We can easily devise our own bilateral security agreements as we have done with Mauritius,etc. Vietnam,Indonesia,Malaysia are the three most vitl nations for us to enter into security JVs while relations with the Phillipines may improve if they place the frigate order with us.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 May 2016 23:18

http://www.thequint.com/technology/2016 ... di-sources

(Something to do with Foxcon's plan for India)

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook will visit India this week and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two sources familiar with the matter said. The sources declined to be named due to the plan not being publicly available yet. Apple too, has declined to provide any details of Cook’s India itinerary.Apple seeks new growth markets such as India after experiencing its first-ever decline in iPhone sales. Cook is currently visiting China. He announced a $1 billion investment in Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing. He will fly to India on Tuesday as part of his first official visit to the country.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 17 May 2016 02:25

India, US hold first maritime security dialog

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 17 May 2016 04:06

Jhujar wrote:http://www.thequint.com/technology/2016 ... di-sources

(Something to do with Foxcon's plan for India)
Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook will visit India this week and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two sources familiar with the matter said. The sources declined to be named due to the plan not being publicly available yet. Apple too, has declined to provide any details of Cook’s India itinerary.Apple seeks new growth markets such as India after experiencing its first-ever decline in iPhone sales. Cook is currently visiting China. He announced a $1 billion investment in Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing. He will fly to India on Tuesday as part of his first official visit to the country.

Cook wants to sell used Iphones in India as an entry level product for his eco-system. He can stuff it.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 17 May 2016 06:02

ramana wrote:
Jhujar wrote:http://www.thequint.com/technology/2016 ... di-sources(ls of Cook’s India itinerary.Apple seeks new growth markets such as India after experiencing its first-ever decline in iPhone sales. Cook is currently visiting China. He announced a $1 billion investment in Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing. He will fly to India on Tuesday as part of his first official visit to the country.
Cook wants to sell used Iphones in India as an entry level product for his eco-system. He can stuff it.

Just 3-4 years ago they were making fun of Indian market . Motorola to had stinking attitude when i watched CNBC did the interview with CEO about decade ago.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 17 May 2016 06:45

NRao wrote:India, US hold first maritime security dialog

Rapid development.

The Joint Strategic Vision announced in January 2015 by both Obama and Modi spoke of the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the ~~South~~ Indo-China Sea.It was in a report sent to the US Congress on August 2015 that the Pentagon said that the US has developed a three-pronged approach for maritime cooperation with India that included maintaining a shared vision on maritime security issues, upgrading bilateral maritime security partnership and collaborating to both build regional partner capacity and improve regional maritime domain awareness . In early 2016, the US began to push India for joint patrols of the Indo-Pacific region. During his visit to India in March 2016, Admiral Harry Harris, U.S. Pacific Commander said: “We should be exercising together and we should be turning those exercises into coordinated operations.” He also mentioned that at the trilateral India-Japan-Australia meeting [in late 2015 in Tokyo at the Foreign Secretaries level], the three sides discussed “maritime security — including freedom of navigation patrols — and trilateral cooperation”. He also suggested considering expanding the trilateral Op. Malabar into a quadrilateral one by including the Australian Navy. During Defence Secretary Dr. Ashton Carter’s visit to India in April 2016, the two countries agreed to set up a new bilateral Maritime Security Dialogue between officials from the respective Defence and External Affairs Ministries. Such a dialogue is now not long in coming !

Good progress.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 May 2016 06:49

Cook will probably try to worm in by announcing a india campus etc.
let him pump in $1b into India then we can talk.
amazon has invested a lot in scaling up ops here albeit they do not manufacture.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 17 May 2016 06:54

Cook must cook and bake nice Make in India desert or stick to Peking ducks.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 17 May 2016 08:10

This is a PTI report, carried by First post. Why does it gush so??

Opportunities to expand Indo-US military cooperation: Pentagon ahead of PM Modi's vist

May 17, 2016

Washington: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vist to the US, the Pentagon has said it is "looking forward" to enhancing relations with India, and that there are opportunities to further expand military co-operation between the two countries.

"The (US Defence) Secretary (Ashton Carter) believes there are still opportunities for us to further expand the cooperation between the United States and India on military issues. They are issues of consequence for India, security issues that are of consequence to the United States," Pentagon Press Secretary, Peter Cook told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

"We have shared security interests in that part of the world. And I think the Secretary is confident that the strong relationship we have right now will only build in the future, so," Cook said in response to a question.

The Defence Secretary, he said, is "looking forward" to the visit of Prime Minister Modi in June.

"He met with the Prime Minister when he was in India, and looks forward to enhancing and building on that visit and the strong relationship that he has been able to maintain with Minister Parrikar since he took over as Secretary," Cook said in response to a question.

Carter was in India last month, during which he held talks with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar and met the Prime Minister. Describing the trip as successful, Carter said there were some in-principle agreements reached at that time with regard to military-to-military relationship.

"I think the Secretary feels very good about where things are with regard to that relationship, and his relationship with Minister Parrikar. I think he sees this as an opportunity for future cooperation between the United States and India on military issues," Cook said.

During his visit, Carter became the first US Defence Secretary to board an Indian aircraft carrier.

"I think he was very appreciative of the warm welcome he received, and the substantive discussions that took place while we were in India," Cook said.

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 May 2016 17:59

Singha wrote:Cook will probably try to worm in by announcing a india campus etc.
let him pump in $1b into India then we can talk.
amazon has invested a lot in scaling up ops here albeit they do not manufacture.

Cook is trying to "curry" favor with the Chinese .. did you check out exactly what Apple is investing in China ?!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple ... SKCN0Y404W

that too taking on Uber headlong into a fight where margins are squeezed out .. by all estimates if Apple wants to make it big in India they need to invest at least double that amount in India

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 17 May 2016 19:27

^^I think a bigger project will be announced, and more money. IF anything notable is announced.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 17 May 2016 19:39

There is MII. And, then there is a much larger, often forgotten, "Smart Cities". All these tech giants need to contribute to that larger picture. Let them make their monies, but they need to provide cutting edge techs for such broad social efforts.

sudeepj · Post by **sudeepj** » 17 May 2016 20:16

Philip wrote:No agreement that impinges in the slightest way our sovereignty,independence and non-military bloc status.We can easily devise our own bilateral security agreements as we have done with Mauritius,etc. Vietnam,Indonesia,Malaysia are the three most vitl nations for us to enter into security JVs while relations with the Phillipines may improve if they place the frigate order with us.

Surely the Mauritian aircraft carrier MNS Maha boom boom will sail in a joint CBG to show the flag to the Chinese!

Gentle Reminder: 0 + 0 = 0.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 17 May 2016 23:03

Cook is cooking software only in India .He wants to utilize IT expertise .

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 17 May 2016 23:15

Jhujar wrote:Cook is cooking software only in India .He wants to utilize IT expertise .

The nervous system of "smart cities" is IT. IoT. Check out Singapore.

However not sure how much Apple can contribute to that space. GE, IBM, CISCO, Intel and may others ar every big players in that space. TCS too (among others).

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 17 May 2016 23:28

Jhujar wrote:Cook is cooking software only in India .He wants to utilize IT expertise .

Getting ready for post 2016 elections results?

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 18 May 2016 04:51

I think Cook is visiting India mainly to inaugurate the new Apple development center in Hyderabad.

Foxconn is the one to go after, for manufacturing iphones in India

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 18 May 2016 07:39

tim cook does not represent America in any way, shape or form.

he represents the business interests of Apple, a MNC.

he could care less about American jobs or bringing home profits to be taxed by the US government.

he is a globalist who doesn't give a fig about national boundries.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 18 May 2016 07:45

TSJones wrote:tim cook does not represent America in any way, shape or form.

he represents the business interests of Apple, a MNC.

he could care less about American jobs or bringing home profits to be taxed by the US government.

he is a globalist who doesn't give a fig about national boundries.

he is still pushing to sell his refurbished iphones in India.

He has nothing else to offer.

He has already been refused once.

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 18 May 2016 07:59

TSJones wrote:tim cook does not represent America in any way, shape or form.

he represents the business interests of Apple, ~~a MNC.~~

he could care less about American jobs or bringing home profits to be taxed by the US government.

he is a ~~globalist~~ who doesn't give a fig about national boundries.

First, This MNC thing has to be understood correctly. Apple's majority share holders remain Americans. Its IP is owned by its American company. Most important, its reporting from all its "subsidiaries" and affiliates in other nations is "rolled up" and reported into the American company. As such it remains primarily an American company. Same is the case for all of the Fortune 500 in the S&P list. Yes, it does trade its American owned wares in other nations through registered corporations.

Cook remains an American, who's global outlook remains as it is very profitable for this American and the American corporation he leads.

So, come again, what is an MNC or a Globalist?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 18 May 2016 10:29

Kakkaji wrote:I think Cook is visiting India mainly to inaugurate the new Apple development center in Hyderabad. Foxconn is the one to go after, for manufacturing iphones in India

Apple announces app development accelerator in Bangalore, India
http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/18/11699 ... -bengaluru

fter a visit to China earlier in the week, Apple CEO Tim Cook's next stop is India, an increasingly important market for the company. Apple has just announced a iOS design and development accelerator to open in Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru), considered the main hub of the country's startup scene with over one million people working in the local tech sector. The center will provide support to local app developers and help improve their iOS software, providing one-on-one app reviews."India is home to one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial iOS development communities in the world," Cook says in a statement. "With the opening of this new facility in Bengaluru, we're giving developers access to tools which will help them create innovative apps for customers around the world." The accelerator is set to open early next year.This is Cook's first trip to India, according to Bloomberg, and he may have additional business in the country; Apple will reportedly also unveil a development center for its mapping services in Hyderabad. Earlier this year the company announced that it had invested $25 million in a Hyderabad facility for 4,500 employees.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 18 May 2016 19:59

anybody can own shares of Apple and most of its production is overseas.

furthermore it does not assist in US security or criminal cases.

I hope India offers Timmy permanent residency and tax free incentives.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 18 May 2016 22:31

What is this tumeric latte bullsh*t? Isn't this just haldi doodh?

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 20 May 2016 21:42

US House approves move to bolster defence ties with India

The US House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan legislative move to bolster defence ties with India and bring it at part with other NATO allies in terms of sale of defence equipment and technology transfer.

By: PTI | Washington | Published: May 20, 2016

The US House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan legislative move to bolster defence ties with India and bring it at part with other NATO allies in terms of sale of defence equipment and technology transfer.

“It seeks to promote greater defence trade and encourage additional military cooperation between the United States and India,” Congressman George Holding said on the floor of the House of Representatives in favour of the amendment in this regard in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017.

The amendment (Enhancing Defence and Security Co-operation with India) was sponsored by Holding and Ami Bera (House India Caucus Chairs) and Chair and Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce and Elliot Engel, respectively.

“I believe that by requiring our government to take actions such as strengthening Defence Technology and Trade Initiative and encouraging combined military planning with India, we can make certain that the US-India defence relationship endures,” Holding said.

“Mr. Chairman, given the dynamic nature of the Indo- Pacific region and its importance to our own national security and future economic growth, now is the time to build on recent successes and propel the US-India strategic partnership forward,” Holding said.

For the US, it encourages the executive branch to designate an official to focus on US-India defence cooperation, facilitate the transfer of defence technology, maintain a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

It urges the US government to enhance India’s military capabilities in the context of combined military planning, and promote co-production/co-development opportunities.

For India, it encourages the government to authorise combined military planning with the US for missions of mutual interest such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.

Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, the Senate India Caucus Chairs, introduced a similar bill earlier this week in the Senate.

Senator Marco Rubio, the former Republican presidential candidate, became its co-sponsor this week.

It is only when it is passed by the Senate and the House as part of the NDAA-2017, it will head to the White House for US President Barack Obama to be signed into law.

The move has been welcomed by the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

“Now that we have bipartisan support from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House India Caucus, we believe this amendment has a good chance of making its way into the House’s version of the defence authorisation bill,” said USIBC president Mukesh Aghi.

Among other things, the House legislative approval requires the Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State to jointly take such actions as may be necessary to recognise India’s status as a major defence partner of the US.

It calls for approving and facilitating the transfer of advanced technology, consistent with US conventional arms transfer policy, to support combined military planning with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness missions.

“The Secretary of Defence and Secretary of State shall jointly, on an annual basis, conduct an assessment of the extent to which India possesses strategic operational capabilities to support military operations of mutual interest between the United States and India,” it said.

rajithn · Post by **rajithn** » 20 May 2016 21:47

Have you also followed the news, that in CA, the attempt to rename India as South Asia has failed?

Melwyn · Post by **Melwyn** » 22 May 2016 05:17

Kakkaji wrote:I think Cook is visiting India mainly to inaugurate the new Apple development center in Hyderabad.

Hopefully, it will fare better than the last time around when they opened and closed the Apple dev center in India within a few weeks, leading to unnecessary layoffs and trouble to a lot of good people. Also it seems like the dev center will be working on the apple maps project, not exactly the most successful Apple product.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 22 May 2016 07:16

I think Tim Cook's visit has been mostly Garam Hawa. He did not commit to 'Make in India', nor did he announce any major contributions in NaMo's priority areas (unlike Google that has committed to build Wi-Fi in 100 railway stations).

Cook mainly wanted Modi to approve his plan to sell refurbished iphones in India. I don't think this should be allowed until Apple adds value of at least 20% of the selling price of the refurbished phone in India. Otherwise it will not be fair to the competitors that are manufacturing their phones in India.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 22 May 2016 07:48

^+1, Kakkaji, sir.

Its no secret that PRC milked western MNC greed bigtime for concessions that suited their national priorities. While we're no PRC and our hands are much more tied due to WTO etc, there are ways and there are ways to get the message across that MNCs wanting to operate in India would do well to contribute to our economy and not merely siphon away profits from here.

A decent beginning has been made in first giving a level playing field to domestic firms in investment matters - witness the treaty modifications first with Mauritius and now with S'pore.

In parallel, the push towards transparency and business-friendliness for greenfield ventures of all sorts - benefitting domestic and phoren players alike.

The self-reliance dream hasn't died either, seems like. Witness the push to revive the desi steel sector amid a global capacity glut.

Interesting days ahead. JMTPs and all that, of course.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 22 May 2016 09:34

Kakkaji wrote:
Cook mainly wanted Modi to approve his plan to sell refurbished iphones in India. I don't think this should be allowed until Apple adds value of at least 20% <snip>

I don't think it should be allowed, period. We are not some dumping ground for Apple's used shite. Cook can take it elsewhere.

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 22 May 2016 09:37

Apple's market is shrinking and the forecasts for future are not good. Anyway apple has no significant impact or share in the Indian market.

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 22 May 2016 09:53

U.S. House votes for enhanced defence cooperation with India

Paid/sponsored articles like these have become regular in thehindu/PTI since the last 18 months. Aroor and shukla too had been made sponsors by Boeing for a short period last year.