US close to signing deals with India in defence, communications: Pacific Command

[jetray]

Good argument, but has a big flaw. You are assuming US will continue to try to be the world police at any cost. The public opinion in the US is changing, regarding them being the world police. Obama won, promising to wind down wars. His tactic is to support the opposition without entering the war themselves. That is his strategy with China too. I don't think Hillary/Sanders(his most likely successors) would disagree with him. US is emerging as the biggest oil producer in the world, so they are not dependent on Oil for energy security. Entire world is transitioning to Solar power or will in a few decades. They are realizing the policing business is not really bringing any good return on investment. They want do do trade and not war. Afterall they are businessmen first.

As China rises, at some point of time in the near future, the amount of money they spend in military in this region won't be worth the trade benefits they get. Being the capitalists that they are, they would just cede the superpower status to China or enter into a power sharing agreement with China, rather than implode their economy like the soviet union trying to compete in a far corner of the world. If such a situation arises, who has more to lose? India or US? For US, worst case is loss of a few billion dollars, maybe another great depression where they restructure their economy to focus more on the european and domestic market.

Where does it leave us? For India, her territorial integrity is at stake. We would be China's bitch just like Pakistan is now only ranked lower than Pakistan. I am sure that is a future I would readily trade for allying with US. In fact, India should be more proactively trying to secure the Japan-Australia-US alliance in terms beneficial to us, before it is too late. China is one problem that is not going to go away just by waiting. China is the one that is doing the waiting game. Waiting for the US power to wane, their Economy to surpass US. Now is the time to act for India.

Long and winding . India can also put it the same way. We are better of trading with china than with US. US prosperity comes from $ being the base currency in the world trade. Remove that then US cant print money at whims & fancy to fund its domestic economy at the expense of the world.
India can also try what china did to US by trading & hoarding dollars. This will ensure China does not disturb the equilibrium. India & China have not gone to war so far and dont expect in near future.

 

[southpaw]

Long and winding. India can also put it the same way. We are better of trading with china than with US. US prosperity comes from $ being the base currency in the world trade. Remove that then US cant print money at whims & fancy to fund its domestic economy at the expense of the world.
India can also try what china did to US by trading & hoarding dollars. This will ensure China does not disturb the equilibrium. India & China have not gone to war so far and dont expect in near future

I would love for us to trade with China. Problem is, China doesn't want that. China wants our land, Arunachal, Andaman, whatever they want next. I know the situation presented for us is a choice between the devil and the deep sea. But with the deep sea(China), you drown for sure. With the devil (US) you might strike a decent bargain that doesn't involve you dying.
With US you get a quasi symbiotic relationship, they give you high tech goods you give them IITians and do cheap manufacturing and be a market for them. China is already a manufacturing behemoth, they don't need our cheap manpower. You don't have technology to trade with them. They need more land for their growing population. But you don't want to give them the North east in a platter. See the conundrum that we are in?

 

[rashid.sarwar]

Money talks, money make friends and foes.

India No 1 arm importer and why would America left behind

 

[Hyperion]

It's quite the opposite in fact. It's will not be India enjoying the perks, most of these deals serve the US strategic interests than they do of India's. A few EMALS here, a few engines and protocols there, don't make BFF's. When push comes to shove, the US will want India to perform all the nasties, what happens then? Will India like to engage multiple devils in it's backyard at the cost of it's own existence (remember that it's not a static game, wherein India and the US engage a party and the party at the receiving end sits idle)? Well, we will have to wait and see. Remember, there's no free lunch in this world, and more importantly, if an American sandwich doesn't kill you right away, it will surely give you cancer of some sort in the long run. Let's see India digest all of this in the coming decade.

All in all, a brilliant strategy on the part of the US of A, let's see how long India survives to play it actively.

The rivalry with China and the act of being a watchdog over nuclear Pakistan is letting India enjoy the US's perks. Not too long ago Pakistan was also in the same situation. But now the non NATO ally is struggling to get merely 8 F-16s. Uncles same is not a trusted friend

 

[Scavenger]

P.S. About the GPS, there is a civilian side to it but that too is monitored ( see Snowden ).

Just a small point:

Our own GPS system is going to be fully operational this year itself.
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Its a regional GPS network - it covers the area from Persian Gulf to Singapore - what India defines as its Area of Strategic Interest.

 

[Taygibay]

Read your own link, Scavenger mate : Regional in IRNSS!
I applaud India for building it and it should be pursued further
but it is not the same thing as GlobalPS, as in globe/whole Earth.
Besides, that was just an example of a tech related to this thread's OP.

Please keep in mind that China also acheived economic progress only through its economic relationship with the US (not Russia, or EU or Africa or ASEAN).

Yes but China managed that without signing CISMOA, LSA or BECA, man!
This does not undermine your entire position in that post which is valid IMHoO
but it shows that one can profit wildly without being a sincere/close ally of the US.

Jus sayin', Tay.

 

[Yaduveer]

India should sign those agreements without delay.

However there are some myths.

Myth no.1 India would compromise its strategic autonomy by signing those.---but look at Japan , she is improving relation with Russia even though being the closest partner of USA. or UK or Germany or France signed AIIB and neglecting US concern and UK gone far with Nuclear treaty with China.

Myth no. 2 Russia would get angry and would get closer to Pakistan--Russia is already improving relation with Pak without signing and in current economic terms, It is Russia which need India more than vice versa. Moreover Russia can be pacified with more defence deals and economic deals.

Myth no. 3 China would get angry and promote Pakistan--As if China care for Indian interests, they are already building CEPAC though area which has Indian claims.They are sending nuclear subs in IN region.China only need Indian market.Thats it.Only economic no strategic relation.


Benefits of the agreements.

1.USA has offered India critical technologies like Jet engine and EMALS in aircraft carrier.

2. Pakistani military -Jehadi network has to think twice before attacking India if we have a ally like USA. Only Obama(Other than France) has said clearly that Pakistan has to act against Pathankot attckers. Putin remained silent on it.

By signing the agreements we should not expect USA to just dump Pakistan and USA also should expect we would just dump Russia.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Credit To Gessler for asking about the ET article and LSA, CISMOA and BECA to Prasun K Sengupta.

Here is PSK's opinion

• As for LSA & CISMOCA & BECA, there are ZERO negative pitfalls for India.
• On the contrary, they will all result in more revenue-generation for Indian firms & greater job creation opportunities.
• This is exactly what Singapore & Djibouti have already done.
• Above all, inking of such foundational agreements (all of which are similar to what India had already inked before with both the USSR & later Russia) will enable India to gain access to several strategic technologies & capabilities similar to what India had obtaining & is still obtaining from Russia.
• Not many may know that when India had leased its first SSGN, the 20-year old K-43 (Project 670 SKAT), in 1987, India had to sign a separate bilateral agreement under which
  • 1) the USSR's nuclear submarines operating in the Indian Ocean were permitted to dock at Vizag in case of emergency repairs; &
  • 2) the USSR's SIGINT vessels disguised as fishing trawlers (that were operating in the Indian Ocean) were always calling at Vizag to be refuelled & replenished.