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Of%20course%2C%20China%27s%20territorial%20and%20economic%20expansionism%20is%20serving%20as%20a%20catalyst%20in%20this%20regard.%26nbsp%3BEarly%20on%2C%20there%20were%20signs%26nbsp%3Bthat%20the%20Biden%20administration%20saw%20the%20US-China%20relationship%20in%20less%20hostile%20terms%20as%20compared%20to%20the%20Trump%26nbsp%3BAdministration.%26nbsp%3B%20However%2C%20as%20the%20days%20rolled%20by%2C%20there%20was%20a%20perceptible%20hardening%20of%20the%20Biden%20Administration%27s%20attitude%20towards%20China.%20Slowly%2C%20it%20became%20more%20upfront%20in%20being%20publicly%20critical%20of%20Beijing.%26nbsp%3BWhen%20he%20delivered%20a%20virtual%20address%20at%20the%26nbsp%3BMunich%20Security%20Conference%20on%2019th%20February%2C%20Biden%20said%20%22We%20have%20to%20push%20back%20against%20the%20Chinese%20government%u2019s%20abuses%20and%20coercion%20that%20undercut%20the%20foundations%20of%20the%20international%20economic%20system%22.%26nbsp%3BIn%20his%20blunt%20opening%20statement%20at%20the%20Alaska%20meeting%20on%2018th%20March%2C%20Secretary%20of%20State%20Antony%20Blinken%20said%20the%20US%20side%20would%20%22discuss%20our%20deep%20concerns%20about%20actions%20by%20China%2C%20including%20in%20Xinjiang%2C%20Hong%20Kong%2C%20Taiwan%2C%20cyber%20attacks%20on%20the%20United%20States%2C%20economic%20coercion%20of%20our%20allies%22%2C%20adding%26nbsp%3B%22each%20of%20these%20actions%20threatens%20the%20rules-based%20order%20that%20maintains%20global%20stability.%22%26nbsp%3B

The%20US%20approach%20was%20also%20spelt%20out%20recently%20by%20Blinken%20and%20Austin%20in%20their%20joint%20op-ed%20in%20the%20Washington%20Post%20on%2015th%20March–just%20three%20days%20before%20the%20Alaska%20meeting%20and%20Austin%27s%20visit%20to%20India.%20They%20wrote%3A%22%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BThe%20United%20States%20is%20now%20making%20a%20big%20push%20to%20revitalize%20our%20ties%20with%20friends%20and%20partners%20%u2014%20both%20in%20one-to-one%20relationships%20and%20in%20multilateral%20institutions%20%u2014%20and%20to%20recommit%20to%20our%20shared%20goals%2C%20values%20and%20responsibilities.%22%20They%20also%20wrote%3A%20%22The%20Indo-Pacific%20region%20is%20increasingly%20the%20centre%20of%20global%20geopolitics.%20It%20is%20home%20to%20billions%20of%20the%20world%u2019s%20people%2C%20several%20established%20and%20rising%20powers%2C%20and%20five%20of%20America%u2019s%20treaty%20allies.%20Plus%2C%20a%20great%20deal%20of%20the%20world%u2019s%20trade%20travels%20through%20its%20sea%20lanes%26nbsp%3BIt%20is%20strongly%20in%20our%20interests%20for%20the%20Indo-Pacific%20region%20to%20be%20free%20and%20open%2C%20anchored%20by%20respect%20for%20human%20rights%2C%20democracy%20and%20the%20rule%20of%20law.%22

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In%26nbsp%3Bthis%20context%2C%20working%20closely%20with%20India%20makes%20good%20sense%20to%20US%20policy%20makers.%26nbsp%3BAfter%20Austin%27s%20meetings%20with%20PM%20Modi%20and%20NSA%20Doval%2C%20the%20US%20Embassy%20said%20%22%u201CBoth%20sides%20exchanged%20perspectives%20on%20shared%20challenges%20confronting%20the%20region%20and%20committed%20to%20further%20strengthen%20their%20broad%20ranging%20and%20robust%20defence%20cooperation.%u201D%26nbsp%3BOn%20its%20part%2C%20India%20reciprocated%20the%20sentiment.%20PM%20Modi%20tweeted%20after%20the%20meeting%20%22%u201CIndia%20and%20the%20U.S.%20are%20committed%20to%20our%20strategic%20partnership%20that%20is%20a%20force%20for%20global%20good.%u201D%20The%20Ministry%20of%20External%20Affairs%20also%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20%22%u201CThe%20Prime%20Minister%20welcomed%20the%20warm%20and%20close%20relationship%20between%20the%20two%20countries%2C%20which%20is%20rooted%20in%20shared%20values%20of%20democracy%2C%20pluralism%20and%20commitment%20to%20a%20rules-based%20order.%u201D%20In%26nbsp%3Bthis%20context%2C%20working%20closely%20with%20India%20becomes%20more%20intrinsic%20to%20US%20policy%20formulation.

At%20the%20same%20time%2C%20another%20aspect%20of%20Defence%20Secretary%20Austin%27s%20visit%20should%20not%20be%20overlooked.%20The%20Pentagon%20sees%20India%20as%20a%20potential%20purchaser%20of%20advanced%20weapons%20systems%20and%20this%20makes%20it%20even%20more%20necessary%20for%20Biden%20to%20seek%20a%20closer%20relationship%20with%20the%20Indian%20political%20establishment.%20The%20on-going%20India-China%20standoff%20at%20the%20LAC%20continues%20to%20be%20seen%20by%20the%20US%20as%20a%20great%20opportunity%20to%20sell%20weapons%20and%20other%20defence-related%20items%20which%20India%20needs%20to%20acquire%20at%20such%20a%20difficult%20time.

%26nbsp%3BBoth%20countries%20have%20increased%20their%20defence%20partnership%20in%20recent%20years%20and%20signed%20four%20key%20foundational%20defence%20pacts.%20The%20General%20Security%20of%20Military%20Information%20Agreement%20%28GSOMIA%29%20was%20signed%20by%20the%20government%20of%20Atal%20Bihari%20Vajpayee%20back%20in%202002.%20It%20aims%20to%20protect%20the%20military%20information%20shared%20by%20the%20US.%26nbsp%3BThe%20Logistics%20Exchange%20Memorandum%20of%20Agreement%20%28LEMOA%29%20was%20signed%20a%20full%2014%20years%20later%20in%202016%2C%20and%20it%20aims%20to%20provide%20mutual%20logistics%20support%20around%20the%20world.%26nbsp%3BThe%20Communication%20Compatibility%20and%20Security%20Agreement%20%28COMCASA%29%20was%20signed%20in%202018%2C%20and%20it%20aims%20to%20facilitate%20communication%20between%20the%20weapons%20platforms%20of%20the%20two%20armed%20forces.%20Finally%2C%20the%20Basic%20Exchange%20and%20Cooperation%20Agreement%20was%20signed%20at%20the%20Indo-US%202+2%20meeting%20in%20October%202020%20and%20it%20largely%20pertains%20to%20geospatial%20intelligence%2C%20sharing%20information%20on%20maps%20and%20satellite%20images%20for%20defence.%26nbsp%3BBECA%20will%20provide%20Indian%20military%20systems%20with%20a%20high-quality%20GPS%20to%20navigate%20and%20missiles%20with%20real-time%20intelligence%20to%20precisely%20target%20the%20adversary.%26nbsp%3BIt%20will%20also%20give%20access%20to%20topographical%20and%20aeronautical%20data%20and%20products%20that%20will%20aid%20navigation%20and%20targeting.

In%20this%20context%2C%20it%20may%20be%20noted%20that%20India%20has%20substantially%20increased%20its%20acquisition%20of%20US%20defence%20equipment.%20Indian%20forces%20are%20operating%20US-sourced%20platforms%20such%20as%20P-8s%2C%20C-130Js%2C%20C-17s%2C%20AH-64s%2C%20CH-47s%2C%20Precision%20Guided-Excalibur%20Munitions%2C%20and%20M777%20howitzers.%20In%20February%2C%20India%20agreed%20to%20acquire%20Apache%20and%20MH-60R%20multi-mission%20helicopters%20worth%20%243.1%20billion%2C%20and%20is%20considering%20other%20US%20systems.%20A%20deal%20for%2030%20armed%20drones%2C%2010%20each%20for%20the%20army%2C%20air%20force%2C%20and%20navy%2C%20estimated%20at%20%243%20billion%2C%20is%20close%20to%20being%20approved%20by%20the%20Indian%20defence%20ministry.%20In%20November%202020%2C%20the%20Indian%20Navy%20acquired%20two%20Sea%20Guardian%20unarmed%20drones%20from%20the%20U.S.%20on%20a%20one-year%20lease.%20India%20has%20plans%20also%20to%20buy%20six%20additional%20P-8I%20long%20range%20maritime%20patrol%20aircraft%20in%20addition%20to%20the%2012%20already%20contracted.

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During%20the%20Trump%20Administration%2C%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3Bamidst%20all%20the%20din%26nbsp%3Babout%20the%20US%20standing%20alongside%20India%20to%20ward%20off%20the%20Chinese%20threat%2C%20there%20was%20an%20unmistakable%20sales%20pitch%20that%20was%20clear%20as%20daylight.%20US%20media%20reports%20made%20no%20secret%20of%20the%20fact%20that%20during%20the%202+2%20dialogue%20in%20October%202020%2C%20Mike%20Pompeo%20and%20Mark%20Esper%20had%20tried%20to%20push%20India%20to%20purchase%20MQ-9%20Reaper%20drones.%26nbsp%3B%20From%20the%20beginning%2C%20Trump%20had%20made%20arms%20sales%20a%20central%20component%20of%20his%20foreign%20policy.%26nbsp%3B

It%20cannot%20be%20doubted%20that%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20will%20also%20push%20for%20arms-sales%20to%20India%2C%20and%20Defence%20Secretary%20Austin%20undoubtedly%20saw%20this%20as%20a%20priority%20item%20on%20his%20agenda%20during%20his%20visit.

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%26nbsp%3BIt%20may%20be%20pointed%20out%20that%26nbsp%3BLloyd%20Austin%20is%20the%20Secretary%20of%20Defence%2C%20and%20within%20the%20US%20set%20up%2C%20matters%20such%20as%20human%20rights%20and%20democracy%20overseas%20do%20not%20come%20under%20his%20domain.%20However%2C%20while%20responding%20to%20a%20question%20during%20a%20media%20briefing%2C%20Austin%20said%26nbsp%3B%20that%20he%20had%20raised%20issues%20of%20human%20rights%20of%20the%20country%u2019s%20minorities%20with%20members%20of%20the%20Indian%20cabinet%20as%20%u201Cpartners%20need%20to%20be%20able%20to%20have%20those%20kinds%20of%20discussions%u201D.%26nbsp%3B%20Asked%20specifically%20if%20he%20had%20raised%20the%20violation%20of%20human%20rights%20of%20India%u2019s%20minorities%20as%20the%20first%20member%20of%20the%20Biden%20administration%20to%20meet%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%2C%20Austin%20replied%20that%20he%20%u201Cdid%20not%20have%20an%20opportunity%20to%20talk%20with%20him%20about%20that%20issue%20during%20their%20meeting%2C%u201D%20adding%20%3A%26nbsp%3B%20%u201CHaving%20said%20that%2C%20I%20did%20have%20a%20conversation%20with%20other%20members%20of%20the%20cabinet%20on%20this%20issue.%20I%20think%20we%20have%20to%20remember%20that%20India%20is%20our%20partner%20and%20a%20partner%20whose%20partnership%20we%20value%2C%20and%20I%20think%20partners%20need%20to%20be%20able%20to%20have%20those%20kinds%20of%20discussions.%20And%20certainly%2C%20we%20feel%20comfortable%20in%20doing%20that%2C%20and%20you%20can%20have%20those%20discussions%20in%20a%20very%20meaningful%20way%20and%20still%20make%20progress%2C%u201D%20Austin%20said.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/new-horizons-emerging-for-india-from-desert-flag-vi%22%3E%3Cstrong%3ENew%20horizons%20emerging%20for%20India%20from%20Desert%20Flag%20VI%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

%26nbsp%3BIn%20this%20regard%2C%20the%20thinking%20of%20some%20key%20players%20in%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20is%20no%20secret.%20In%202019%2C%20soon%20after%20the%20Centre%20stripped%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir%20of%20special%20status%20under%20Article%20370%20and%20split%20it%20into%20two%20Union%20Territories%2C%20Kamala%20Harris%20did%20not%20mince%20words.%20%u201CWe%20have%20to%20remind%20Kashmiris%20they%20are%20not%20alone%20in%20the%20world%2C%u201D%20she%20said.%20%u201CWe%20are%20keeping%20a%20track%20on%20the%20situation.%20There%20is%20a%20need%20to%20intervene%20if%20the%20situation%20demands.%u201D%20Again%2C%20in%20the%20Biden%20campaign%u2019s%20agenda%20for%20Muslim%20Americans%2C%20India%u2019s%20National%20Register%20of%20Citizens%20and%20Kashmir%20featured%20in%20the%20list%20of%20threats%20to%20Muslim%20populations%20across%20the%20world.%20%u201CIn%20Kashmir%2C%20the%20Indian%20government%20should%20take%20all%20necessary%20steps%20to%20restore%20rights%20for%20all%20the%20people%20of%20Kashmir%2C%u201D%20said%20the%20campaign%20agenda.%20%u201CRestrictions%20on%20dissent%2C%20such%20as%20preventing%20peaceful%20protests%20or%20shutting%20or%20slowing%20down%20the%20Internet%2C%20weaken%20democracy.%u201D

Freedom%20House%2C%20a%20US-based%2C%20US-funded%20Non-Governmental%20Organisation%20said%20in%20its%20recent%20report%20%27Democracy%20under%20Siege%27%20that%20Civil%20liberties%20in%20India%20have%20been%20in%20decline%20since%20PM%20Narendra%20Modi%20came%20to%20power%20in%202014.%26nbsp%3BThe%20report%20downgraded%20India%27s%20rating%20to%20%27partly%20free%27.%20Trump%20had%20maintained%20a%20tactical%20silence%20in%20regard%20to%20India%27s%20Citizenship%20Amendment%20Act%20and%20the%20human%20rights%20situation%20in%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir.%20While%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20may%20also%20find%20it%20necessary%20to%26nbsp%3Bmaintain%20a%20similar%20tactical%20silence%20on%20these%20internal%20matters%20of%20India%2C%26nbsp%3Bduring%20closed-door%20meetings%20with%20the%20Indian%20side%2C%20such%20reports%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20cited%20as%20instances%20of%20%27independent%27%20studies%20calling%20on%20India%20to%20undertake%20a%20course-correction.%20Something%20of%20this%20nature%20appears%20to%20have%20been%20done%20by%20Austin.%20On%20their%20part%2C%20senior%20Indian%20officials%20have%20said%20that%26nbsp%3B%20human%20rights%20and%20values%20were%20discussed%20as%20shared%20strengths%20of%20the%20two%20countries.%20However%2C%20this%20irritant%20is%20likely%20to%20keep%20raising%20its%20head%20from%20time%20to%20time.

There%20is%20another%20and%20perhaps%20more%20serious%20danger%20to%26nbsp%3Bthe%20US-India%20relationship%26nbsp%3Blurking%20on%20the%20scene%20and%20it%20relates%20to%20CAATSA%20%28Combating%20America%27s%20Adversaries%20Through%20Sanctions%20Act%29.%26nbsp%3BOn%20India%27s%20reported%20plan%20to%20purchase%20the%20Russian%20S-400%20missile%20defence%20system%2C%20Senator%20Menendez%20said%20in%20his%20letter%20to%20Defence%20Secretary%20Austin%20that%20if%20India%20chooses%20to%20go%20forward%20with%20its%20purchase%2C%20that%20act%20will%20clearly%20constitute%20a%20sanctionable%20transaction%20with%20the%20Russian%20defence%20sector%20under%20provisions%20of%26nbsp%3B%20CAATSA.%u201CI%20recognise%20that%20India%20is%20not%20a%20US%20treaty%20ally%20and%20has%20historical%20ties%20with%20the%20Soviet%20and%20Russian%20militaries.%20However%2C%20if%20India%20chooses%20to%20go%20forward%20with%20its%20purchase%20of%20the%20S-400%2C%20that%20act%20will%20clearly%20constitute%20a%20significant%20and%20therefore%20sanctionable%2C%20transaction%20with%20the%20Russian%20defence%20sector%20under%20Section%20231%20of%20CAATSA%2C%u201D%20Menendez%20wrote.%26nbsp%3B%u201CIt%20will%20also%20limit%20India%27s%20ability%20to%20work%20with%20the%20US%20on%20the%20development%20and%20procurement%20of%20sensitive%20military%20technology.%20I%20expect%20you%20to%20make%20all%20of%20these%20challenges%20clear%20in%20conversations%20with%20your%20Indian%20counterparts%2C%u201D%20he%20said.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3C/strong%3E%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/from-covid-19-to-galwan-valley-clash-chinas-lies-damned-lies-and-statistics%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EChina%27s%20lies%2C%20damned%20lies%20and%20statistics%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

%26nbsp%3BDefence%20Secretary%20Lloyd%20Austin%20did%20raise%20the%20issue%20of%20India%u2019s%20planned%20acquisition%26nbsp%3Bof%20the%20S-400%20air%20defence%20system%20from%20Russia%2C%20and%20stressed%20that%20allies%20and%20partners%20should%20avoid%20%u201Cany%20kind%20of%20acquisitions%20that%20will%20trigger%20sanctions%u201D.%26nbsp%3B%3Cbr%3EIt%20may%20be%20recalled%20that%26nbsp%3BIn%20October%202018%2C%20India%20had%20signed%20a%20USD%205%20billion%20deal%20with%20Russia%20to%20buy%20five%20units%20of%20the%20S-400%20air%20defence%20missile%20systems%2C%20despite%20a%20warning%20from%20the%20then%20Trump%20administration%20that%20going%20ahead%20with%20the%20contract%20may%20invite%20US%20sanctions.%26nbsp%3BIn%202019%2C%20India%20made%20the%20first%20tranche%20of%20payment%20of%20around%20USD%20800%20million%20to%20Russia%20for%20the%20missile%20systems%20which%20are%20expected%20to%20be%20delivered%20later%20this%20year.

The%20United%20States%20had%20in%20January%202021%20imposed%20sanctions%26nbsp%3Bon%20Turkey%2C%20a%20NATO%20ally%20for%20purchasing%26nbsp%3B%20S-400%20surface-to-air%20missile%20systems%20from%20Russia.%20However%2C%20it%20had%20done%20so%20only%20after%20Turkey%26nbsp%3Btook%20the%20delivery%20of%20the%20first%20shipment.%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BBriefing%20the%20media%2C%20Austin%20said%20that%20the%20question%20of%20CAATSA%20or%20sanctions%20against%20India%20is%20not%20on%20the%20table%20as%20India%20has%20not%20taken%20delivery%20of%20the%20system.%26nbsp%3BHe%2C%20however%2C%20did%20not%20elaborate%20on%20what%20will%20happen%20when%20India%20will%20take%26nbsp%3Bdelivery%20of%20the%20system%20later%20this%20year.

Summing%20up%2C%20one%20cannot%20ignore%20these%20potential%20roadblocks%20for%20the%20Indo-US%20relationship.%20They%20cannot%20be%20wished%20away%20because%20they%20are%20very%20much%20real.%20There%26nbsp%3Bis%20a%20great%20deal%20of%20affinity%20being%20shown%20by%20US%20policy%20makers%20towards%20India%2C%20but%20it%20may%20lessen%20considerably%20if%20they%20can%20sort%20out%20their%20difficulties%20on%20trade-related%20issues%20with%20China.%20The%20signposts%20and%20markers%20in%20the%20unfolding%20scenario%20will%20have%20to%20be%20watched%20closely%20to%20understand%20where%20the%20relationship%20is%20heading.

%26nbsp%3B%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23LloydAustin%22%20data-user-id%3D%22JdmbUKxJ56Kl%22%20href%3D%22/topic/lloydaustin%22%3E%23LloydAustin%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23India%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Bq4MmUPrXF8p%22%20href%3D%22/topic/india%22%3E%23India%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23UnitedStates%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Lgr3hTOPJ0yv%22%20href%3D%22/topic/unitedstates%22%3E%23UnitedStates%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23JoeBiden%22%20data-user-id%3D%22tLOXw4T5mTfp%22%20href%3D%22/topic/joebiden%22%3E%23JoeBiden%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B