US introduce bill to bring India at par with NATO allies and boost defence ties

[raj76]

http://www.defencenews.in/article/U...-with-NATO-allies-and-boost-defence-ties-5089

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis expected visit here next month, four influential American lawmakers have introduced an amendment bill which if passed by Congress would elevate the status of the Indo-US defence ties on par with that of US other NATO allies.
Moved by Congressmen George Holding, Ed Royce, Eliot Engel and Indian-American Ami Bera, the amendment submitted to the House Committee on Rules on Wednesday institutionalises the US governments focus on US-India security relationship while sending a powerful signal to New Delhi that Washington is a reliable and dependable defence partner.
Aimed at bolstering defence ties between the US and India, the legislation would amend the National Defence Authorisation Act, which is considered a must-pass bill.
The amendment has strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, as demonstrated by the fact that the House India Caucus Chairs (Congressmen Holding and Bera) sponsored it along with the Chair and Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee (Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, respectively).
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, 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.
"Strengthening the strategic partnership between the US and India is critical to address the shared security challenges our two nations face," Holding said.
"As the worlds oldest democracy and the worlds largest democracy, the US and India share common values and a growing partnership on many fronts, especially on defence cooperation.
India plays a critical role as a strategic partner to the US and as a pillar of stability in South Asia," Bera said.
The move was welcomed by the US-India Business Council.
"The legislation that was originally introduced by Congressman Holding is moving through the legislative process.
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 US-India Business Council President Mukesh Aghi.
Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, the Senate India Caucus Chairs, introduced a similar bill earlier this week in the Senate.
Modi is expected to visit the US for a bilateral summit with President Barack Obama in June. He may address the joint session of Congress during his visit

 

[BDforever]

http://www.defencenews.in/article/U...-with-NATO-allies-and-boost-defence-ties-5089

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis expected visit here next month, four influential American lawmakers have introduced an amendment bill which if passed by Congress would elevate the status of the Indo-US defence ties on par with that of US other NATO allies.
Moved by Congressmen George Holding, Ed Royce, Eliot Engel and Indian-American Ami Bera, the amendment submitted to the House Committee on Rules on Wednesday institutionalises the US governments focus on US-India security relationship while sending a powerful signal to New Delhi that Washington is a reliable and dependable defence partner.
Aimed at bolstering defence ties between the US and India, the legislation would amend the National Defence Authorisation Act, which is considered a must-pass bill.
The amendment has strong bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, as demonstrated by the fact that the House India Caucus Chairs (Congressmen Holding and Bera) sponsored it along with the Chair and Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee (Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, respectively).
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, 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.
"Strengthening the strategic partnership between the US and India is critical to address the shared security challenges our two nations face," Holding said.
"As the worlds oldest democracy and the worlds largest democracy, the US and India share common values and a growing partnership on many fronts, especially on defence cooperation.
India plays a critical role as a strategic partner to the US and as a pillar of stability in South Asia," Bera said.
The move was welcomed by the US-India Business Council.
"The legislation that was originally introduced by Congressman Holding is moving through the legislative process.
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 US-India Business Council President Mukesh Aghi.
Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, the Senate India Caucus Chairs, introduced a similar bill earlier this week in the Senate.
Modi is expected to visit the US for a bilateral summit with President Barack Obama in June. He may address the joint session of Congress during his visit

would like to have Indians point of view.

 

[Indika]

would like to have Indians point of view.

Literal meaning: They want us to become a non-Nato major ally.
Between the lines: please become like pakistan for us and ruin yourself.

 

[Sven]

would like to have Indians point of view.

Would you like an American's point of view too? Because I see this as politics instead of substance.

What does "par with NATO allies" even mean? We treat our allies as though they are on tiers. At the top are the UK, Japan, Australia, France, Norway and Canada. Then the rest of West Europe, and then East Europe.

That's how it's always been. So it begs the question, "How is India going to be treated and what does this mean?"

Are we going to sell them our best gear like we do with Norway, the UK and Japan? If trends are any indicator, no we are not. We will offer to jointly develop certain technologies and offer our assistance with some of their domestic programs, but we aren't opening the floodgates and offering them our best gears.

Are we going to greatly expand our intelligence cooperation with India, to the same level with do with our top-tier allies? Again, I doubt it. I can't help but think India doesn't want our intelligence staff manning their stations like we do with NATO partners:

Are we going to sign a host of basing, logistics and cooperation agreements like we have with NATO partners? Such is already happening and will continue to do so.

India isn't on par with NATO allies nor is it becoming such. It is on par with some NATO allies, but it is not held or treated with the regard of our best and most trusted allies and long-term partners. India is important, but it's too new for us to jump in bed with fully. There are too many questions about their long-term commitment and cooperation with us and this hampers our willingness to elevate their status.

And honestly, they feel the same way because we've a poor track record when it comes to treating them nicely or respecting their interests, which we still don't because we're only concerned about our own. We call this phenomenon 'Politics".

So there's going to be increased partnership, and maybe a loosening of export restrictions, but not by much, but for the most part this is political and a message to South and East Asia that the US sees India as an important part of regional economic, political and military security. Which India most definitely is.

Just an American's thoughts. But you know how crazy American's can be, right? Never mind our thoughts.

 

[dadeechi]

Would you like an American's point of view too? Because I see this as politics instead of substance.

What does "par with NATO allies" even mean? We treat our allies as though they are on tiers. At the top are the UK, Japan, Australia, France, Norway and Canada. Then the rest of West Europe, and then East Europe.

That's how it's always been. So it begs the question, "How is India going to be treated and what does this mean?"

Are we going to sell them our best gear like we do with Norway, the UK and Japan? If trends are any indicator, no we are not.

Are we going to greatly expand our intelligence cooperation with India, to the same level with do with our top-tier allies? Again, I doubt it.

Are we going to sign a host of basing, logistics and cooperation agreements like we have with NATO partners? Such is already happening and will continue to do so.

India isn't on par with NATO allies. It is on par with some NATO allies, but it is not held or treated with the regard of our best and most trusted allies and long-term partners. India is important, but it's too new for us to jump in bed with fully.

And honestly, they feel the same way. So there's going to be increased partnership, and maybe a loosening of export restrictions, but not by much, but for the most part this is political and a message to South and East Asia that the US sees India as an important part of regional economic, political and military security. Which India most definitely is.

Just an American's thoughts.

would like to have Indians point of view.

India would be treated at par with Japan & South Korea at a maximum or at par with Thailand & Philippines at a minimum.

 

[Armstrong]

Would you like an American's point of view too? Because I see this as politics instead of substance.

What does "par with NATO allies" even mean? We treat our allies as though they are on tiers. At the top are the UK, Japan, Australia, France, Norway and Canada. Then the rest of West Europe, and then East Europe.

That's how it's always been. So it begs the question, "How is India going to be treated and what does this mean?"

Are we going to sell them our best gear like we do with Norway, the UK and Japan? If trends are any indicator, no we are not. We will offer to jointly develop certain technologies and offer our assistance with some of their domestic programs, but we aren't opening the floodgates and offering them our best gears.

Are we going to greatly expand our intelligence cooperation with India, to the same level with do with our top-tier allies? Again, I doubt it. I can't help but think India doesn't want our intelligence staff manning their stations like we do with NATO partners:

Are we going to sign a host of basing, logistics and cooperation agreements like we have with NATO partners? Such is already happening and will continue to do so.

India isn't on par with NATO allies. It is on par with some NATO allies, but it is not held or treated with the regard of our best and most trusted allies and long-term partners. India is important, but it's too new for us to jump in bed with fully.

And honestly, they feel the same way. So there's going to be increased partnership, and maybe a loosening of export restrictions, but not by much, but for the most part this is political and a message to South and East Asia that the US sees India as an important part of regional economic, political and military security. Which India most definitely is.

Just an American's thoughts.

I thought we were your best ally ?

I feel so unloved and unwanted right now !

 

[raj76]

Just an American's thoughts.

but what matters is what pentagon and US strategists think and implement

 

[Sven]

I thought we were your best ally ?

I feel so unloved and unwanted right now !

I still want you, Armstrong. I've been looking to get another pet.

but what matters is what pentagon and US strategists think and implement

Which I'm pretty familiar with.

And what matters is equally the Indian MoD and Government's thoughts, and yet we'll get a flood of people telling their side too. So as for my thoughts:

Do you not remember me?

 

[BDforever]

India would be treated at par with Japan & South Korea at a maximum or at par with Thailand & Philippines at a minimum.

all of them has US military presence, so are you going to give base to US for getting such status ?

 

[dadeechi]

all of them has US military presence, so are you going to give base to US for getting such status ?

Yes. Signing of the LSA would open up those opportunities.

 

[BDforever]

Yes. Signing of the LSA would open up those opportunities.

@eyeswideshut @hinduguy @kahonapyarhai @SpArK and others

 

[Indika]

all of them has US military presence, so are you going to give base to US for getting such status ?

Then leftists will run all over the country berating the current govt.
India has enuf military muscle to save itself (We are a nuke power dude). There might be some co-operation like hosting of re-con planes or berthing subs but that too with lot of introspection. Problem with such exchanges is that it will leave your system to be infiltrated by foreign agencies.

@eyeswideshut @hinduguy @kahonapyarhai @SpArK and others

Read carefully its just jugglery of words.

India, US agree ‘in principle’ to sign logistics support pact
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/FZ...gree-shipping-information-deal-Ashton-Ca.html

India and the United States on Tuesday agreed to ramp up defence ties, agreeing “in principle” to sign a key agreement that will give the two nations access to logistics support from each other besides refuelling and berthing facilities.

Now where does it say they will be given a base like japan or Philippines. India itself is a military power on its own it does not need US to defend itself.

 

[cloud4000]

Literal meaning: They want us to become a non-Nato major ally.
Between the lines: please become like pakistan for us and ruin yourself.

India is not a fool to be suckered into this 'non-NATO major ally' nonsense as Pakistan has. In the end, it's up to India to protect is interest. This is a good bill. It treats India with respect. I like it.

 

[nvKyleBrown]

I thought we were your best ally ?

I feel so unloved and unwanted right now !

You're on the bubble about being an ally or even a friendly country. There is a lot of hostility towards Pakistan in the US.

 

[21 Dec 2012]

You're on the bubble about being an ally or even a friendly country. There is a lot of hostility towards Pakistan in the US.

He wasn't being serious