India readying for post Lok Sabha poll proximity to US

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 18

India is readying itself for a much closer security embrace with the US soon after the elections are over, said government sources.

Both sides are making headway on several agreements that will give India unprecedented access to American surveillance of China and ultra-encrypted communications, a privilege denied to most countries in this part of the region.

The flip side is the US will be able to leverage this closeness to transfer its high-end equipment for space, surveillance and military purposes.

The sources refrained from commenting whether India will be agreeable to an overall unbalanced relationship. Trade remains a sore point after US President Donald Trump repeatedly singled out India for high tariffs. His Commerce Ministry is also examining whether India should be denied the privilege of zero duty exports on goods worth Rs. 40,000 crore.

On the other hand, the US backed India in its recent dust-up with Pakistan. Trump made a judgment-neutral statement when he had said that India would undertake a big operation against Pakistan in retaliation for the Pulwama attack. His National Security Adviser John Bolton then supported India’s right to self-defence, a tacit nod to a military offensive. And after India had struck at Balakot followed by an aerial duel the next day, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked both sides to step away, seen as endorsing the Indian attack. 

The US had started out by stating that India needs to sign foundational agreements for greater security proximity. Since then more have been added that will, in theory, enable India to import high-end US technologies and equipment for civilian as well as military uses.

Of the foundational agreements, General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is operational as is the logistics supply agreement (LSA). In case of the Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), the US and India have set up a joint committee to sort out the wrinkles, including whether there would be a one-time payment for accessing Pentagon’s system.

Another pact, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) has been almost finalised by the Indian side and can be inked if the US finds the South Block draft acceptable.

Progress is being made on other agreements that could give India technologies for manufacturing by the private sector. In effect, their signing could become the platforms for discussions on a fighter aircraft assembly line and long-endurance, sophisticated drones for civilian and military applications.

The US has notified the strategic trade authorisation (STA) pact that was earlier incumbent on India joining the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group, a condition that has since been dropped. US teams have already visited India to tie up the loose ends in Industrial Security Annexe (ISA), which will ensure that transfer of sensitive technology to the private sector here remains secure. However, India may need to refurbish some of its laws as well.