India-US Relations : News and Discussion- II

[Gus]

To worry about letting go of PoK we need to first have it.

[svinayak]

If the US is unwilling to let go of its dominant position within the NSG (as you yourself stated), why should it allow China to overtake it globally or undermine its pre-eminence even in Asia? I do not believe that there is support within the US administration for PRC. Among Asian nations, except for Laos & Cambodia, there is absolutely no support for the Chinese position on the Indo-China Sea issue or its growing assertive behaviour. That said, China is a dominant power in the world and is *THE* dominant Asian power. We may not like that and we may work to change that, but that is the TRUTH.

Are you defending China PRC or US in your post?

[SSridhar]

Are you defending China PRC or US in your post?

Up to you to decide.

[Viv S]

He's just stating the facts. It doesn't always need to be construed as a defence of or attack on some country.

[ramana]

Krishna^2, Pak just upped the security for Hafiz Suar!!!
Recall China is also saying Hafiz Suar is bad guy.
Now comes Indo-Us joint statement.
NaMo invites Obama to visit India t his convenience.
Obviously before handing down office and not empty handed.
Easy objective is drone Hafiz Suar: Pleases India and China!!!
Bonus add DI.
Note JS calls it D-Company a Mumbai term.

[Muppalla]

US is in confused mode and the confusion will go away hopefully -
The following conclusion in the speech probably tells it.

Mr. Speaker,

My final thoughts and words would reiterate that our relationship is primed for a momentous future.

The constraints of the past are behind us and foundations of the future are firmly in place.

In the lines of Walt Whitman,

"The Orchestra have sufficiently tuned their instruments, the baton has given the signal."

And to that, if I might add, there is a new symphony in play.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Distinguished members for this honour.

Thank you very much.

As another BRFite put it - The orchestra is USA and it is at a stage to pass the baton and the new symphony in play is India.

[SSridhar]

Pakistan may arrest Hafeez Saeed and put him, with all comforts, in a crowded jail which would make it difficult for a drone attack. Then, it will also proclaim that action has been taken against the old hag.

[krishna_krishna]

Ramana now you say that rings a bell, pakis can claim incompetence/impotence to dron-acharya since they do not /claim not to have ability to stop them so pakis can save their musharaffs against their jeehardi pups and give tacit approval. All happy and massa can claim no business to go after pakis/cpec since you got your revenge. But still it points to massa trying to dissuade us from going after paki jugular of PoK region. The region that connects pakis to chinis and central asia. We have to break that axis and reclaim it back no other option IMHO.

Everyone including massa will strart behaving nicely after that

[svinayak]

Defence, Asia-Pacific focus of Indo-US cooperation

The joint statement is 50 paras long and needs to be studied or pored over.
The big picture is US is letting India take back the Indian Ocean and allowing into Pacific ocean. Its all about naval presence.
The US has finally realized what made the British and empire. Its INDIA

Also rogue PRC and Asian neighborhood is too complex to be handled by US and with few countries

4. The United States and India share common climate and clean energy interests and are close partners in the fight against climate change. Leadership from both countries helped galvanize global action to combat climate change and culminated in the historic Paris Agreement reached last December. Both countries are committed to working together and with others to promote full implementation of the Paris Agreement to address the urgent threats posed by climate change. India and the United States recognize the urgency of climate change and share the goal of enabling entry into force of the Paris Agreement as early as possible. The United States reaffirms its commitment to join the Agreement as soon as possible this year. India similarly has begun its processes to work toward this shared objective. The leaders reiterated their commitment to pursue low greenhouse gas emission development strategies in the pre-2020 period and to develop long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. In addition, the two countries resolved to work to adopt an HFC amendment in 2016 with increased financial support from donor countries to the Multilateral Fund to help developing countries with implementation, and an ambitious phasedown schedule, under the Montreal Protocol pursuant to the Dubai Pathway. The leaders resolved to work together at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly to reach a successful outcome to address greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. Further, the two countries will pursue under the leadership of the G20 strong outcomes to promote improved heavy-duty vehicle standards and efficiency in accordance with their national priorities and capabilities.

India is coordinating with China on climate control in the global forums.
US wants to be seen as partnering with India in the global platform. The language of agreement wants to show that US has a partner in the global forum.

Securing the Domains: Land, Maritime, Air, Space, and Cyber

13. The leaders applauded the completion of a roadmap for cooperation under the 2015 U.S.-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region, which will serve as a guide for collaboration in the years to come. They resolved that the United States and India should look to each other as priority partners in the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.


14. They welcomed the inaugural meeting of the Maritime Security Dialogue. Owing to mutual interest in maritime security and maritime domain awareness, the leaders welcomed the conclusion of a technical arrangement for sharing of maritime "White Shipping" information.
15. The leaders affirmed their support for U.S.-India cooperation in promoting maritime security. They reiterated the importance they attach to ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight and exploitation of resources as per international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and settlement of territorial disputes by peaceful means.


16. The leaders applauded the enhanced military to military cooperation between the two countries especially in joint exercises, training and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR). They expressed their desire to explore agreements which would facilitate further expansion of bilateral defense cooperation in practical ways. In this regard, they welcomed the finalization of the text of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
17. Noting that the U.S.-India defense relationship can be an anchor of stability, and given the increasingly strengthened cooperation in defense, the United States hereby recognizes India as a Major Defense Partner. As such:

Does it mean that India has a independent Asia Pacific policy?

34. The United States welcomes India's interest in joining the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as India is a dynamic part of the Asian economy.

India has applied for APEC in 1997 when China trade was relatively small.

42. The leaders reaffirmed their support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member. Both sides committed to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the UN Charter. The leaders are committed to continued engagement on Security Council reform in the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform.

44. Building on their respective bilateral engagements with Africa, such as the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and India-Africa Forum Summit, the leaders reflected that the United States and India share a common interest in working with partners in Africa to promote prosperity and security across the continent. The leaders welcomed trilateral cooperation with African partners, including in areas such as agriculture, health, energy, women's empowerment and sanitation under the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development. They looked forward to opportunities to deepen the U.S. - India global develop pment cooperation in Africa, as well as in Asia and beyond.

Does India have a seperate India Africa relationship and strategy?
Why is India partnering with another country for India africa bilateral partnership

[svinayak]

Are you defending China PRC or US in your post?

Up to you to decide.

Pardon me. I find it humorous

[devesh]

USA wants neither PRC nor India to collapse. they ideally want the both to constantly keep at each other without either achieving decisive superiority over the other.

Over the past decade, PRC's influence within Russian near-abroad in CAR has grown exponentially. and PRC's meddling in Pak/Afg is opening up a land corridor for PRC that circumvents SEAsian straits and gets direct access to Persian Gulf overland through Af-Pak and CAR.

What the USA is witnessing is a virtual Asian Empire that could defacto neutralize its Naval dominance of Indo-Pacific theater simply by creating vast land corridors through CAR and linking to the Gulf. If a future conflict with PRC is inevitable, the Asiatic interests of PRC would make it necessary to wage massive land wars (similar to WW-2) to effectively cut it off from CAR and further southwest (Af-Pak, Iran, West Asia).

If one thing US has learned, it's that massive land wars in the Islamic world do no work so well (for the USA; due to various ideological and political reasons -- but that's a discussion for another time).

My conclusion is:

1. USA does not want its Naval dominance to be neutralized by PRC (by creating land access).

2. USA also might be gaming future scenarios and doesn't like its chances if it has to open large-scale land campaigns in Asia.

3. "Inviting" India to increase influence in Indo-Pac arena is a clever schadenfreude at PRC's expense (perhaps as a ploy to needle PRC and rile them up). But given existing and future continued projections of Japanese Navy, Indian Navy, various SEAsian and Australian Navies (+ obviously US Naval assets) -- PRC is heavily outmatched both qualitatively and quantitatively.

4. I strongly believe that given India's resource constraints and commitment to internal development, competing in Indo-Pac theater will at best remain a peripheral issue (because we're a margin player in that arena, and to really attain seismic shift in our leverage over other players will require significantly more allocation to developing bases and other military assets in SEAsia --- THIS WON'T BE POSSIBLE IN THE SHORT to MID-TERM -- next 15-25years).

5. Going back to PRC's increasing reach in CAR, Af-Pak, potential dual-use land corridors into Iran and West Asia -- for India, this poses a much more fundamental threat to our security than the existing and projected future balance of power in SEAsia. There is simply no way we can continue to ignore PRC in this arena and build fantasy castles (in the clouds) about projecting power in SEAsia and the broader Pacific theater.

6. Given this reality, I think the "invitation" to the Pacific theater is a distraction (for PRC's "benefit") and nothing more than that. I'm not privy to what the 'actual' understanding is between USA and the developing Indian leadership. But realistically, any alliance with USA is only possible if a quid-pro-quo can be reached vis-a-vis Af-Pak. This is the most basic requirement. It's like the barest of bare first step for India to secure itself. If we're not on the same page on this, I don't see how an alliance with USA is possible. Or even advisable at this stage.

[Gus]

Modi also mentioned 'threat in space' - was he referring to the anti satellite missile test that China did a few years back?

[nvishal]

Ok I've waited long enough for the air to clear

This modi visit has been the same old, same old.

[svinayak]

Ok I've waited long enough for the air to clear

This modi visit has been the same old, same old.

Exactly. This is for other countries.

[devesh]

But ultimately, in any US-India-PRC triangle, Russia is the wild card.

vis-a-vis Russia vs China:

1. China poses a threat to Russia due to Russia's increasingly weak demographic profile. But I think given the level of centuries-long Russian cultural and political influence in CAR and the broader Russian southern flank, PRC will have a difficult time in moving beyond transactional relations with CAR countries for at least another generation or so.

1a. The caveat here is how does the "Islamic" factor influence the tilt towards Rus or PRC? Given the broader alliance between the "West" and Sunni Islamism (and both having historical "grievances" or issues with Rus), I think PRC has an advantage here.

2. The other threat for Russia is Han demographic penetration of Far-East and Russia's Pacific regions. This area is also rich in resources. Russia will continue to fight tooth and nail all along its frontier against the Islamic hordes and also against increasing Chinese aggression.

3. Given this balance and future projection, I think it's entirely feasible that Russia will want greater military-political power on the southern reaches of CAR to be with a friendly power which doesn't threaten its core interests.

Conclusion: I think within the next 15-30 years, we are heading towards a "sweet spot" during which the broader interests of RUS and India will align with the interests of USA (only in the Af-Pak theater; not anywhere else) temporarily. This is our window. We absolutely have to be prepared to act decisively and without any hesitation when the time comes. We have to prepare ideologically, politically, socially, militarily, and bring the Hindu masses onto this project.

[Gus]

Mexico now supports NSG admission.

[NRao]

1) Modi is a PR machine. He spent about 6-7 minutes (may be more - the vid started way after he had entered) shaking hands!!

2) This meet was a nice ending to the start at the Shangri-La meet in Singapore. Both complemented each other rather well

3) Both Parrikar and Modi mentioned Indo-Pacific , SLOC in SCS and other seas

4)

The joint statement is 50 paras long and needs to be studied or pored over.
The big picture is US is letting India take back the Indian Ocean and allowing into Pacific ocean. Its all about naval presence.
The US has finally realized what made the British and empire. Its INDIA

My take is that it is a partnership, each carrying more weight in their respective regions, but aiding the other if a need were to arise. Shagri-lA was a pincer move by India and the US.

Frameworks/networks/whatever, all pointing to some form of grouping/alliances/partnerships/whatever anyone wants to term them. Bottom line is that India has a major role to play in the IOR + Asean regions.

Not a surprise. I had stated "SCS" even before Vicky entered Indian waters. And, the need for a more mature carriers (I had mentioned 100,000 ton at that time). Recently IN provided a clearer picture - all around Africa (which includes the Atlantic) and all the way to Alaska.

Roll-back of China from IOR?

Need to wait till July. I feel the financial problems for a carrier will be resolved by then.

IMHO, both Japan and Aussies will play a Jr. role

I do see India playing an independent role, while in sync with the US in some areas. Multi-polar. Interdependent.

On Russia. Russia has to a great extent supported China in the SCS, but I just do not see her as a player.

ShauryaT,

Your request for supply chain just may come true. Modi mentioned the importance of a great transport infrastructure (solved one of my biggest complains) - by 2022(?)(75th aniv of India) AND the US is after China to stop dumping. It would not surprise me that India becomes a hub, to a great extent replacing China. I think it all depends on Indian moves - how quickly can India react to the situation

[Gus]

How many remember our MPs making a mess lining up to greet kilton saab. I think Modi put that memory to rest.

[Viv S]

India Asks US for Predator C Drones



US-India Agree To Construct 6 Nuclear Reactors In India

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India and US firm Westinghouse have agreed to begin engineering and site design work immediately for six nuclear power plant reactors in India and conclude contractual arrangements by June 2017, the White House said today.

Culminating a decade of partnership on civil nuclear issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama during their White House meeting "welcomed" the start of preparatory work on site in India for six AP1000 reactors to be built by Westinghouse, officials in Washington said.

The two leaders also noted the intention of India and the US Export-Import Bank to work together toward a competitive financing package for the project, the White House said.

Once completed, the project would be among the largest of its kind, fulfilling the promise of the US-India civil nuclear agreement and demonstrating a shared commitment to meet India's growing energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Mr Obama and PM Modi also welcomed the announcement by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and Westinghouse that engineering and site design work will begin immediately and the two sides will work toward finalising the contractual arrangements by June 2017, the White House said.

These reactors would bring clean energy to India and generate thousands of jobs in the US, Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the US President, told reporters in a conference call.

The White House said the steps that the two governments have taken in the last two years through the US-India Contact Group, including by addressing the nuclear liability issue, inter alia, through India's ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, have laid a strong foundation for a long-term partnership between US and Indian companies for building nuclear power plants in India.

[chetak]

Indian Prime Minister Modi addresses a joint session of both houses of the US Congress:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFuQSj_ ... e=youtu.be

Modi even playfully ribs the US Congress (@16:52), by comparing its politically partisan feuding to that of India's politics, mentioning his problems in the Rajya Sabha.

[member_29186]

How many remember our MPs making a mess lining up to greet kilton saab. I think Modi put that memory to rest.

I do, I do. Some MPs jumping from their seats to come to the aisle to shake hands with kilton.

[NRao]

Should America continue to be a world leader?

[chetak]

Bhupender YadavVerified account‏@byadavbjp

9 standing ovations & 72 times thunderous applause of US Congress during mesmerising address of PM @narendramodi ji.


RETWEETS 370 LIKES 407
9:35 AM - 8 Jun 2016

[arun]

Alyssa Ayres thrashes New York Times June 4 Editorial Board article that called for the US to oppose India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Ayres dismisses the NYT article by saying “the American paper of record should ground its arguments in an appraisal of the complete facts”.

India, Global Governance, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group

The referenced New York Times June 4 Editorial Board article is linked below:

No Exceptions for a Nuclear India

[NRao]

India-US Joint Statement- Defence: Sorting a few legacy issues, framing a new agenda

Ten paragraphs of the India-US Joint Statement, The United States and India: Enduring Global Partners in the 21st Century, cover issues related to defence. Some of these are legacy issues finally nearing closure; others are new entrants in the bilateral agenda.

LEMOA

LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement is another name for Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), an agreement the US has with many of its allies. But this has been especially tailored for India, following negotiations for over a decade. The US gave a final draft in January, and a team of Pentagon lawyers flew to Delhi for negotiations in February. During Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter’s visit in April, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced an in-principle approval to sign the LEMOA, pending a final exchange of drafts. Those have now been exchanged, and the Joint Statement says the LEMOA text has been finalised by the two sides. It will be signed once India completes its process, which is mainly about approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

LEMOA allows each military to avail logistics support facilities — fuel, spare parts, mechanics, etc. — of the other while on joint training, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and port calls. The agreement lays out the procedure for billing for these facilities as part of a larger accounting transaction, and details are contained in the clarifying protocols annexed to LEMOA.

Under LEMOA, while Indian logistics support will be available to the US military, Indian armed forces will benefit from access to a large number of US military bases globally, particularly while undertaking HADR missions in a diaspora crisis. It will allow India to respond promptly to emerging situations or humanitarian crises, and will expand Indian military’s operational environment globally.

Major Defence partner

The US has recognised India as a Major Defence Partner (MDP). This follows a long-standing Indian demand to provide predictability and transparency in the US system that approves transfer of military equipment and technology. MDP is not an established category, and this nomenclature has been especially created for India, because a legislative amendment to bring a change in India’s status would have been a long-drawn and difficult process.

By recognising India as an MDP, the White House is signalling its system to expedite Indian defence licences. Coupled with India’s entry into the MTCR, this is going to help India get modern defence technology from the US by moving to the approved category of the Arms Control List. But as it is neither a Presidential Directive nor a legislative amendment, the robustness of the process will be brought out by the outcomes.

White Shipping Agreement

The Statement welcomes the conclusion of a technical arrangement for sharing “White Shipping” information. The countries signed the White Shipping Agreement (WSA) last month, which enhances their maritime domain awareness and fits in with the Maritime Security Dialogue, the only 2+2 dialogue that India has with any country.

The WSA establishes an information network protocol that allows the two navies to exchange information about ships in their waters. Ships are usually classified into white (commercial ships), grey (military vessels), and black (illegal vessels). After signing the WSA, the two sides will be able to exchange information about white ships, which may not be known to the other side. The Navy’s Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) at Gurgaon will be the nodal centre for WSA.

Information Exchange Annex

India is constructing an indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-1) at its shipyard in Cochin, and has plans for a second aircraft carrier (IAC-2) in the near future. For availing technologies available with the US, an agreement and protocol for sharing information — maintaining its confidentiality and integrity — was needed to be signed. The Information Exchange Annex is that protocol. Since then, a team of senior US Navy officials has visited the shipyard at Cochin last month to help with some issues in the IAC-1.

[JE Menon]

>>"If the US is unwilling to let go of its dominant position within the NSG ...why should it allow China to overtake it globally or undermine its pre-eminence even in Asia? I do not believe that there is support within the US administration for PRC. Among Asian nations, except for Laos & Cambodia, there is absolutely no support for the Chinese position on the Indo-China Sea issue or its growing assertive behaviour. That said, China is a dominant power in the world and is *THE* dominant Asian power. We may not like that and we may work to change that, but that is the TRUTH.

The US will certainly keep checks & balances against us even as the relationship develops further. This is not only a natural instinct against a potential challenger in the future, but this is also due to a lesson that the US learned from its dealings with China in the 70s and 80s. It went head-over-heels with China in order to defeat/dismantle the USSR and the Faustian bargain led to the Chinese challenge of today. The US may not like another China in a future India. Perfectly understandable. We [India] must do everything to pursue our goals."

Absolutely right. And so far we are playing it broadly right. The situation just 5 years ago and now has already changed dramatically, not to mention 15 years ago. The relationship with the US is inevitable, just as a relationships with the US, EU, China and Japan are. Ganging up will only happen one one of these overplays their hand. We are playing catch-up so we are trying to ensure that such a thing (hand overplaying), which is also inevitable will not happen too soon. Even if it happens tomorrow, we are basically OK - but we will be more exposed. Minimum exposure, maximum strategic autonomy and the greatest possible power to exercise it at most efficient cost. Some are also fortunate. In our case, we are that we got the current government for the foreseeable future.

[Philip]

The Hindu has two reports,one where O''Bomber harangued Mr.M on human rights,etc.,etc and another where the perceptions between the US diplomutts and our mandarins differ.Our gentry do not consider the agreements as "joining us at the hip" with the US militarily,while those in Washington seem to think that it is a "given".

What would've been great for us would've been Mr.Modi describing the relationship as also "maintaining peace in Indo-China",that being the ancient name for the region which is why I call the SCS the "Indo-China Sea". If only our mandarins in the mEA start referring to the region as "Indo-China",it would really put the pointed shaft up XI Gins a*se!

Will US N-plant suppliers adhere to the Liability Bill,which the Russians have agreed upon ? What's sauce for the Bear is sauce for the Yanquis too!

However complicated the strat relationship is,on the eco front we should go at it full speed,with a caveat that entities like Monsanto (GM crops),drug majors,etc., entities that will bring harm to India are kept firmly out.

[nvishal]

DTTI then

MDP now

all these non-sensical words haha

If modi likes to play to the audience(PR) then the US too is not behind. The whole range of engagements are for a show and both have their own reason for doing it.

[panduranghari]

2. The other threat for Russia is Han demographic penetration of Far-East and Russia's Pacific regions. This area is also rich in resources. Russia will continue to fight tooth and nail all along its frontier against the Islamic hordes and also against increasing Chinese aggression.

OT for this thread.

China has to penetrate Russian far east NOW. In 15 years, the Han looses all its demographic advantage.

[schinnas]

After reading into all the overt and subtle signals in the joint declaration, Modi's address to US Congress, it is very clear that India is shedding its past inhibitions to a large extent and embracing US. This is at the same time a guarded embrace and there is an understanding on both sides that in both countries there is bi-partisan support for Indo-US partnership. There are lot of things going for it including very high level of people to people contact, trade and interdependence of business (almost every major business in US has operations (IT / BPO / R&D) in India even if they don't have big businesses in India). Indo-US military partnership is steadily growing over the years. Cheen is getting increasingly aggressive and supplying even more goodies including armed drones to their munna. US dependence on its used rubber is waning as its troop concentration in Afghanistan is reducing.

Overall right timing for Indo-US partnership to emerge. Even if it is purely transactional, since there is good degree of convergence of interests and inter dependence, it will serve both strategic and tactical goals for both countries. I feel it was the right decision of Modi to shed lingering cold-war hesitations. Modi is also level headed in that he does not fall head over heels into any embrace and one can expect him to be reasonably guarded in embracing Uncle Sam.

[NRao]

What would've been great for us would've been Mr.Modi describing the relationship as also "maintaining peace in Indo-China"

After Parrikar had to explain, in response to a reporter's question, why he said "Indo-Pacific"?

Kidding aside, these two managed the scene very well.





I would be interested in finding out if Hillary plans on retaining Carter. My gut feel is she will.

No idea what to expect out of the nuclear deal, especially when it would come on-line. Among all the noise I think that is one that will help Modi's cause/legacy the most. I expect the defense aspect to slowly fade into the background. It would matter, but the benefits the economy sees would exceed anything else.



But, to complete the picture it would be necessary for India to let people in the 'hood know what are the limits. Next step.

[NRao]

Interesting comparisons between 15 and 16.

Beyond the Hype on Indo-US Relations, It’s Been a Year of Incrementalism

[Hitesh]

Interesting comparisons between 15 and 16.

Beyond the Hype on Indo-US Relations, It’s Been a Year of Incrementalism

That is exactly my thought. There is no big game changer in these kind of visits. The way Indians and Americans are going about it is incrementalism. They are building a strong relationship step by stem trying to avoid pitfalls, missteps, miscommunications, and any breaches of trust or misunderstanding. If you ask me, the real big game changer was that Modi decided to immediately jettison any grievances or anger publicly toward US and build a rapprochement towards US even though he had very valid reasons to do so. I think that this sent a huge strong signal towards US that India under Modi's leadership is looking forward to a strong mutual beneficial relationship and that the ball is in US court. So far, US has responded positively. And both sides decided the best way to build this relationship is through incrementalism, instead of all rushing into it and be bro happy in a bro-romance type of relationship.

I favor and like this approach. I approve of it.

[Ashokk]

When US lawmakers stormed PM Modi for autograph

[NRao]

There is still a divide - in some areas a very large one.

But, what is different is that all such "discussions" will now go underground, to protect the public image. Don't think for a sec that the US is giving up on religious freedom, etc.

This is a maturing relationship. Which can head the other way IF China were to become a non-factor.

But, till such times - perhaps another few decades - India and the US will accommodate each other. In some areas (def?) more than others (freedom of this and that?).

I think it is the right decision. Time will tell if it is a good one.





BTW, there is a ppt, which I am unable to find, from the DoD, which stated (long back) that "inter dependencies" will "reduce costs". The key word is "Inter dependencies". I think they are still defining that "term". Well understood are words like "partnerships", "alliances", etc. This ID is fairly new - even to the US. I think that is what is happening between the two navies in the Indo-Pacific region. BUT, key to ID is "communications", especially real-time. I suspect this "communications" will be the next-step for this relationship - within the Def arena. I also suspect that the two have come to an informal understanding already - to circumvent CISMOA. White ships, submarines, etc are indicative of that _ IMHO.

[svinayak]

After reading into all the overt and subtle signals in the joint declaration, Modi's address to US Congress, it is very clear that India is shedding its past inhibitions to a large extent and embracing US. This is at the same time a guarded embrace and there is an understanding on both sides that in both countries there is bi-partisan support for Indo-US partnership. There are lot of things going for it including very high level of people to people contact, trade and interdependence of business (almost every major business in US has operations (IT / BPO / R&D) in India even if they don't have big businesses in India). Indo-US military partnership is steadily growing over the years. Cheen is getting increasingly aggressive and supplying even more goodies including armed drones to their munna. US dependence on its used rubber is waning as its troop concentration in Afghanistan is reducing.

Overall right timing for Indo-US partnership to emerge. Even if it is purely transactional, since there is good degree of convergence of interests and inter dependence, it will serve both strategic and tactical goals for both countries. I feel it was the right decision of Modi to shed lingering cold-war hesitations. Modi is also level headed in that he does not fall head over heels into any embrace and one can expect him to be reasonably guarded in embracing Uncle Sam.

All these are only on paper. Execution is a different matter.

The phrase "people to people contact" must be removed from usage. This high level contact dont matter. It is all corp to corp business. It is all about trade and commerce and money. If India does not get any market for consumer goods, Industrial goods and high tech in US then lot of things wont materialize.

The only thing the US corp are interested is the 100s of billion dollor demand for military hardware. India can use that leverage correctly for political capital and global support.


On this visit to the US - his fourth since he took charge as PM - Modi seemed to break his usual pattern on foreign visits, choosing to focus more on American businesses and lawmakers than the Indian community.

-------

The next part of the engagement is the joint military action in the region with US troops and Indian troops together.

Indian airforce and US airforce have sorties in AfPak, US navy and Indian navy in the Arabian seas in joint maneuver and US marines and Indian expenditiary force in AfPak going after Al Quida and ISIS.
Can this happen?

[ramana]

Alyssa Ayres thrashes New York Times June 4 Editorial Board article that called for the US to oppose India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Ayres dismisses the NYT article by saying “the American paper of record should ground its arguments in an appraisal of the complete facts”.

India, Global Governance, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group

The referenced New York Times June 4 Editorial Board article is linked below:

No Exceptions for a Nuclear India

Pro and anti India are duking it out. Let the pro prevail

NYT is a windbag resting on past laurels like the Chindu.
NYT is also mouthpiece of UK Labour type thinking in US.

[Suresh S]

success is a bad teacher, failure is a better teacher but do not have too many failures. what is happening in the world vs a vs India is reason for happiness but also a great reason for worry. If the western powers decide that instead of China India will be the world,s factory even if partially china will not take it lying down. An attack on India by China becomes that much more likely as it,s economy suffers. Ultimately most wars are about economy.

Time to pay utmost attention to our military. All loopholes need to be plugged soon.

[sudeepj]

success is a bad teacher, failure is a better teacher but do not have too many failures. what is happening in the world vs a vs India is reason for happiness but also a great reason for worry. If the western powers decide that instead of China India will be the world,s factory even if partially china will not take it lying down. An attack on India by China becomes that much more likely as it,s economy suffers. Ultimately most wars are about economy.

Time to pay utmost attention to our military. All loopholes need to be plugged soon.

China has chosen this path by blocking western companies from doing business and reaching profitability there. People think that there is some kind of grand strategic thinking behind this, but talk to Chinese and they will tell you that its all Xi friends and family who are running the Chinese copycats that have replaced/stolen from Western companies. Many are hopping mad because they can see that Chinese politicians have closed off a mutually beneficial engagement in trade by acting like common thieves.

[habal]

how many US lawmakers attended the session ? are there any numbers.