The US president met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
(Photo: Reuters)
Bangkok US welcomes Indian PM Modi with great anticipation: US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jack Sullivan, enthusiastically stated in Indian media that there is no upper limit to the partnership between the two countries. Eli Ratner, the U.S. Defense Department’s head of Indo-Pacific policy, predicted Modi’s visit to New York and Washington, which began on Wednesday, would be a springboard for U.S.-India relations.
The Biden administration is delighted with India for a reason: It sees the country of 1.4 billion people as its most powerful partner in Asia, standing firmly politically and militarily against China’s power grab on the continent.
Modi, controversial in his home country for harsh treatment of critics and more, should be welcomed in Washington. According to diplomatic etiquette, the highest honor for a foreign state guest is: a formal state dinner at the White House with a banquet and a speech by Modi to the US Congress.
Exclusive access program for close allies only
Typically, such exclusive US visit programs are mostly reserved for close allies — only French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Hee-yeol have given state receptions since Biden took office. But this should not be limited to diplomatic symbolism: US officials announced “substantial results” ahead of the Biden-Modi meeting – with a clear focus on defense cooperation. The US is expected to commit to substantially expanding military technology transfers to India – thereby strengthening India’s military.
India’s procurement list includes the purchase of 30 armed combat drones, which could help India secure its disputed border with China in the Himalayas. Most importantly, however, is US manufacturer General Electric (GE)’s plans to produce fighter jet engines with local Indian partners in the future.
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The U.S. government had received the corresponding application several months ago – and according to U.S. media reports, the agreement is now ready to be signed. This is of great importance to the Indian arms industry: while it is able to supply the Indian military with locally-made fighter jets, the country still has to buy the necessary engines from abroad.
Reduce India’s reliance on Russian armaments
In the US, a planned production partnership between General Electric and India’s state-owned arms company Hindustan Aeronautics is also a big step forward: engine technology is a strategic advantage for the US, security consultant Sullivan said ahead of the expected announcement of the partnership. “So every technology transfer in this area is a vote of confidence in a strategic partnership with another country.”
Given shared concerns about China’s military power, closer cooperation is not only in the interests of both countries: Washington and New Delhi’s governments are also concerned with reducing India’s dependence on Russian armaments. The US hopes this will exacerbate Russia’s international isolation, while India wants to diversify its sources of military technology supplies — also because Russian supplies have stalled after the Ukraine war.
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Germany also wants to help India: Earlier this month, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems agreed to transfer submarine-building technology to India. In the presence of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, company boss Oliver Burkhard signed an agreement with a local shipbuilding group to build submarines in India according to German construction and design codes – provided the two companies were awarded contracts by the Government of India. Pistorius also announced relief for India on the purchase of other German armaments.
“This deal could strengthen India’s defense industry for decades to come”
In the US, however, observers are urging India not to be overly enthusiastic about rearmament: Daniel Markey, an expert on South Asia at the American Institute, commented that the US government must understand that India is not an ally and will never seek an alliance with the US. of peace. In his view, the current good relationship between the two countries is based on similar interests in China, which both see as a threat.
There are also sharp divisions in other areas, such as Modi’s increasingly authoritarian politics at home, or India’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Markey argues that boosting India’s military power by transferring engine technology could benefit the US in the short term. “But the agreement may strengthen India’s defense industry for decades to come, which may not be in the long-term interests of the United States.”
Sullivan hopes to solve these problems
Ahead of Modi’s visit, US security adviser Sullivan tried to allay concerns that the Indian and American peoples see each other as natural partners – and that helps bridge all obstacles.
However, the American public’s perception of India under Modi’s government is not entirely uncritical: Human rights activists are pushing to address controversial issues during state visits — Modi has been accused of backsliding on press freedom, among other things. and discrimination against Muslims. Activists planned a rally critical of Modi near the White House on Thursday. There they want to distribute leaflets saying: “Modi is not welcome”.
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