A There are a lot of exciting things happening with regard to India-US relations, and it looks like a lot more are in the pipeline ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US on June 21. Considerable effort is being made to remove bottlenecks in Delhi even as US officials ‘Broken China’ Through various departments to secure the important General Electric aircraft engine deal. The deal is significant in terms of future technology commitments, while being highly regarded invitation The address to the US Congress is important for political signals, especially given the upcoming elections in both countries.
But photo ops and bonhomie can only take you so far. To take that leap forward, it is essential to continue working on common interests for the foreseeable future.
that political thing
Undoubtedly, the US visit will be highly useful to the Modi government, even if it is of a high level Popularity rating. But this is politics. Every little picture counts to showcase not just the growing clout of the Modi government but India as a rising power. US President Joe Biden also wants the vote of the Indian American population, which Stand 6 percent of the total foreign born population and Emerging Because of the higher median household income.
The bipartisan support for India in the US Congress is partly explained by the fact that large Indian populations live in Republican states such as Texas and Democratic states such as California. Moreover, India is the source of second largest Number of international students enrolled in US universities. In addition, high-skilled Indian nationals receive most of the employer-sponsored H-1B temporary visas. It matters. There has also been a huge increase in illegal immigration. This is troubling, especially when one reason for the issue is “increasing religious and political persecution” in India, a belief that is also prominent analysts seem to be adopting.
However, the result is that a cohesive Indian community is likely to remain an active component in the politics of both countries. It is a new development that matters to political heads. Problem? polarizationcaste division, and the fact that 10 percent there are muslims in indian americans who are very good Organised, In other words, the Diaspora is not a unitary block of cheerleaders.
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talk of china
Only Chinese participants in the recent IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore Question was about “expeditious and strong cooperation” between India and the United States. This reflects Beijing’s concern. Deputy National Security Advisor of India Vikram Mishri Stated clearly that India has no intention of entering into any military alliance. John Aquilino, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, said, “When our friends and partners in India and their sovereignty were challenged and needed assistance, the United States delivered based on our relationship and our agreement. “
Now he is talking, although it will probably make South Block uncomfortable. Although we may walk a fine diplomatic line, India is the only country with a ‘hot’ border with China. Therefore, it desperately needs a strong defence, even as it smartly refuses to engage in an arms race – which China wants – and prefers an employment-generating defense industry.
With future wars likely to be highly technology-intensive, the primary source for India could be the US. For Washington, the fundamental strategic disadvantage is that a China annexing Taiwan would completely overtake the US in terms of their combined GDP. This is simply unacceptable, especially experts In 2023, the growth rate of America is estimated to be 0.1-1.6 percent and that of China is 4.8-6 percent. NSA Jake Sullivan’s Ideology,
That goal also means Starbucks is opening one new store every year. nine hours in China, and Elon Musk announced a second assembly line for Tesla batteries Shanghai, American companies go where the money is. But the reality of a hostile Beijing – which does not deter victimization The number of foreign companies – has led to the emergence of a new term: ‘friendshoring’. political risk The analysis anticipates uncertainty in China, which also included apprehensions about India in 2021. Investors do not like war or infighting. Europe is still the preferred destination, but by 2019, Vietnam had made grades with US companies registered capital over 10 billion dollars. In return, Vietnam has invested $1.06 billion in 208 projects in the US by mid-2023.
India may be a late entrant, but large scale purchases like the recent 220 Boeing aircraft, will create a new million According to Biden, jobs in 44 states in America. Furthermore, an industry study stated that 163 Indian companies invested $40 billion, creating approximately 4,25,000 jobs in the US. ‘Friends with benefits’ is the key. In short, a two-way street with common interests.
Meanwhile, China is still in the game, be prepared to go it alone or almost alone. This is where Defense Technology Transfer comes in. ‘Self-reliant’ has never been more important than this.
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defense production
The door for joint defense production is now completely closed for China. Having missed an industrial revolution, India is still reeling with companies such as Tata Aerospace & Defence, and Bharat Forge already inking lucrative deals with US companies. The former is manufacturing helicopter fuselages and is likely to lead to partnerships on the GE deal, which will include a decade-long collaboration for the Tejas Mark 2 and the future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The point is that the deal took almost 15 years to mature. This has to change.
Meanwhile, Indian large companies such as the Kalyani Group and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are primarily focused on manufacturing or manufacturing existing equipment in the defense sector. However, L&T has also forayed into shipyards with little government support. But none are tall in defense exports, making them junior partners to the US. That doesn’t diminish their importance in the learning curve and future export potential. It is to be emphasized that despite several agreements signed since 2005, including the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative announced in 2012, India remains the largest defense importer in 2023.
Defense exports definitely increased from Rs. 4,682 crores in 2017 Rs 15,918 crore In 2023. It is a good start, with most of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) doing the heavy lifting. America wanted trade, and India wanted technology; The former happened, but the latter did not. The GE deal could potentially change this in years to come, but it also needs Indian industry to measure up.
We have the base have time to something new
India is now the largest innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the world, and this is what the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) can do. True, Indian companies like 3rdDitec alliance with California-based defense corporation General Atomics in 2022 for next-generation computer chips, integrated circuits and other semiconductor technologies. upcoming $3 billion deal Significantly, the 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones will have Indian components. General Atomics has also tied with the Indian artificial intelligence company 114ai, while the US Air Force Execution Its first Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with a Bengaluru based company. Then there is huge potential for software for new systems, not just as backend offices but in innovation.
After all, the Aadhaar mission of the Modi government is one of the biggest in the world. The collaboration should take forward the Modi government’s $10 billion semiconductor mission, for which India is already prepared accept it of the world’s chip designers.
With the US cutting off access to China, given the labour-intensive nature of the chip industry, this could be a key driver for growth. This is also an area in which India already has an edge in terms of a booming IT industry and allied sectors. New roadmap The recently signed Defense Cooperation on Supply Chain Security and Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement emphasized on reducing regulatory barriers. It also critically established mechanisms such as the Advanced Domain Defense Dialogue and the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (Indus-X) to foster partnerships between Indian and US companies, investors and academic research.
getting there
All things considered, this is a turning point in Indo-US relations. But the relationship needs to be viewed with a stern dose of reality. Will GE transfer the entire technology to India? It won’t happen, and probably never will.
So first, consider revived programs like the Kaveri engine, which struggled against tremendous odds even as our big defense companies climbed the ladder of technology absorption. Second, despite huge talent innovation, start-ups are struggling in India with a process-driven approach, with no clarity on how to take their product to the end user. A platform like Innovation for Defense Excellence (iDEX) for international collaboration will help bring all concerned to the table to provide clarity on potential commercial exploitation.
third, as Vrinda Kapoor Arguably, in China, the chip industry closely observes civil-military fusion in development. India’s military needs to be a stakeholder in this vital area, given its inherent ‘dual use’ nature. Fourth, while the private sector moves forward, the biggest time-lapse in the defense sector is the change in end-user decision-making. Hence, the Headquarters of the Integrated Defense Staff (HQ IDS) needs to provide a single mandate, where applicable, followed by the ground person involved in shaping the project.
Fifth, for Indus-X to work, major Indian companies will have to substantially increase their R&D budgets to make their presence felt. There is much more – like ensuring that our ‘Silicon Valley’ in Bengaluru has the least amount of water and Delhi NCR can welcome visitors without suffocating them. China wins because it dealt with its earlier crises. To be a regional power you first have to look like one. In the meantime, forget multipolar vs. unipolar calisthenics.
America may or may not come to your aid against China, and so we may be one foot away from a rout. But while Russia still counts in defense in all things, its footing is slowly slipping into the enemy’s camp. Quite simply, we have lost a pole to climb in very murky international waters. That’s the bottom line. In Washington, just go for it. Its rah rah Time.
Tara Kartha is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Hamra Like)