US want "more jointness" in military operations with India

[Abingdonboy]

WASHINGTON (PTI): US commanders are keen to develop "more jointness" in military operations with India to enhance strategic combat capabilities of both the forces.

Suggesting that US forces under its Pacific Command (PACOM) were working to "advance and deepen" relationship with India, a top US commander has said that currently American and Indian forces were engaged in as many as 56 military exercises every year.

"What we are really trying to do is to make (India-US military) relationship as routine, formalise and functional in a way that great partners do. We have two different set of capabilities in some areas and in other areas we have tremendous alignment in our capabilities," Director of India Strategic Focus Group (ISFG) Col. Michael Albaneze told PTI.

Albaneze heads the six-member ISFG that advises Pacific Commander Navy Adm Samuel J Locklear III on how to advance and strengthen the partnership with the Indian military.

Comprising of civilian and military experts, the group established in 2009, is often referred as a "mini think-tank" within the Pacific Command, which now has a robust exercise programme with the Indian military.

"We are a small group. We advise the commander based on looking at the situation in South Asia and it helps him so the strategic focus of the group is large relationship between the US and Indian militaries," he said explaining the ISFG's role.

In one of the recommendations, the group has called for more co-ordination between the Central and Pacific commands given that India is on the border of the two. It also advocated more engagement with India in the ******* region.

"What I really want to do is to take that programme from where it is at today and to continue to advance and deepen it.

I would like to look at more jointness in the way we do operations that really enhances the capabilities of both militaries when they are doing exercise," Albaneze said, adding that there are great engaging opportunities between the two militaries.

"We have so many common interests. When you look across the board from everything from national interest... align pretty well. There are a lot of areas where we do really come together and I think because of that it has developed into a very robust programme where we are trying to do things with each other that are mutually beneficial," he said.

As a reflection of the defense ties between the two countries, India and the United States are now engaged in as many as 56 military exercises every year.

Counter-terrorism and maritime security are huge regional challenges, he said in response to a question.

The US and Indian navies collaborations are primarily in the Indian Ocean region, he added.

US want "more jointness" in military operations with India - Brahmand.com

 

[IndoUS]

56 exercises??? When did we do this many. I thought we only did one or two exercise every year.

 

[Abingdonboy]

56 exercises??? When did we do this many. I thought we only did one or two exercise every year.

I knew it was mayber 10-20 but yeah 56 is HUGE. Of course not all are as ambitious or highly publiscised as Yudh Abhyas. There are naval exs with induvidual warships, divers, helo assets etc there are AF exchanges. There are IA visits,SF exercies,helo exs, mountain warfare exs and joint visits. Exercises is a broad term it can range from the large scale Yudh Abhyas to the more modest where a group of 20-30 IA AAC pilots visit the US to fly their assets and learn and for the same on the US side (visit India).

 

[arp2041]

By JOINTNESS, US means India should sign CISMOA & LSA.

Answer is NOPE.

 

[Abingdonboy]

By JOINTNESS, US means India should sign CISMOA & LSA.

Answer is NOPE.

Well they can hope for that but we all know that ain't happening anytime soon!


Even without signing such deals India and US are doing 56 exercises a YEAR, getting C-17s, P-8Is,AH-64Es,CH-47F,M777 etc- so it's all good!

 

[arp2041]

Well they can hope for that but we all know that ain't happening anytime soon!


Even without signing such deals India and US are doing 56 exercises a YEAR, getting C-17s, P-8Is,AH-64Es,CH-47F,M777 etc- so it's all good!

I was even against signing of EUMA, but i guess we had no other option left - either sign a blanket agreement or sign individual agreement for each US' weapon system buy, the best thing is India is playing it's cards very well & only buying transport/reconnaissance planes from US & not fighters etc. which could have proved disastrous in case of US sanctions.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I was even against signing of EUMA, but i guess we had no other option left - either sign a blanket agreement or sign individual agreement for each US' weapon system buy, the best thing is India is playing it's cards very well & only buying transport/reconnaissance planes from US & not fighters etc. which could have proved disastrous in case of US sanctions.

I think LSA was a pretty good deal to sign.

 

[timetravel]

wtf is Jointness.... we want to buy weapons and have a good relationship...and we pay for what we buy..

We are interested in being good friends but no blood relations please!

 

[li0nheart]

regional co-op is good, but they should never think of getting India on their bandwagon! we have always followed our own foreign policy.

 

[Abingdonboy]

wtf is Jointness.... we want to buy weapons and have a good relationship...and we pay for what we buy..

We are interested in being good friends but no blood relations please!

India can gain a lot from the US in terms of cooperation with R&D and military exercises.

 

[arp2041]

I think LSA was a pretty good deal to sign.

Are u sure??

as far as i know by signing LSA we would have given access to our Logistical facilities to the US & vice-versa. Now we know that IN don't have presence in Pacific/Atlantic ocean while USN has considerable presence in IOR, so this agreement would had become a one-sided affair.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Are u sure??

as far as i know by signing LSA we would have given access to our Logistical facilities to the US & vice-versa. Now we know that IN don't have presence in Pacific/Atlantic ocean while USN has considerable presence in IOR, so this agreement would had become a one-sided affair.

It doesn't apply solely to naval craft but also AF fighters and transports. Yes it may start out one-sided but as India grows this equation will start to swing back in India's favour. India would have accsess to logistical bases all over the world and this could prove to be invaluable in the future. Otherwise India would have to set up such bases.

 

[timetravel]

India can gain a lot from the US in terms of cooperation with R&D and military exercises.

so we are ready for joinr R&D... but no jointness of the kind where we become an extension or wherein we are responsible for enhancing or projecting US military power in US.

Joint partnership or R&D ok... but no Jointness of Military strategies.!

 

[Dandpatta]

Pray that our administration doesn't fall for the "Jointness" . The way I see it the (ploy) is to expose us Indians to all the glitzy hardware of US military in exercises, entice our commanders with the most modern outfits , draw up a sale/purchase plan after teasing us with the new technology and entrap us to buy more... and more... and more. I'd say keep the US at arms distance but not be their poodle in military policy the way a certain 'nation' has become.

 

[arp2041]

It doesn't apply solely to naval craft but also AF fighters and transports. Yes it may start out one-sided but as India grows this equation will start to swing back in India's favour. India would have accsess to logistical bases all over the world and this could prove to be invaluable in the future. Otherwise India would have to set up such bases.

We'll be only fooling ourselves, u know this better than anyone else. US wants India to sign another agreement apart from CISMOA & LSA called BASIC EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT (BECA), which facilitates the exchange of geospatial information for the use of the Governments of both Parties For defense and other government purposes. Now these 4 agreements (including EUMA) are not some kind of charity done by the US such that they give access to there bases etc. to other countries, these are designed solely to serve the national interests of US. We would be generously giving the keys of our sovereignty to the US by signing them.