Republican Senator Marco Rubio tabled a landmark bill that could enhance US-India partnership, which is vital to counter China in the Indo-Pacific. The bill proposed that India be given status the same as other allies like Japan, Israel, South Korea, and NATO partners in terms of technology transfers. This bill also aims to block security assistance to Pakistan, if found to sponsor terrorism against India.
Rubio said while introducing the US-India Defense Cooperation Act in the Senate, that China continues to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, impeding on the sovereignty and autonomy of our regional partners. It is necessary for the US to counter these hostilities. And asserted that the states facing aggressive expansion of Communist China are not alone.
Presidential elections in the US are going to be held soon in November this year. In a bitterly divided Congress, it is unlikely that the bill will be passed in such a short period of time. Though it might get reintroduced in the next Congress.
The proposed legislation may or may not turn into law, but its importance lies in the fact that it comes from Mario Rubio, senior member of the Senate.
Provisions of the bill
The Republican Senator argued that it is crucial to strengthen our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with India. This bill also ensures that the US supports India in addressing threats to its territorial integrity, and offers to provide necessary security assistance.
In order to enhance their partnership US-India will cooperate on areas like defense, civil space, technology, medicine, and economic investments. And also extend International Military Education and Training cooperation with India.
If the bill is proceeds, it would grant India a limited exemption from Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for acquiring Russian military equipment. Even smooth imports from US of defense arms and services to India aligns with US interests and essential for regional peace and stability and only boost India’s deterrence capabilities.
It must be noted that for the first time a bill is introduced in the US Congress which is primarily India centric, giving it the same status as its allies, exemption from CAATSA and imposing sanctions on Pakistan if found sponsoring Terrorism against India.
US-India relations
The US considers India as a vital partner in promoting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. We conduct a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue which is a diplomatic summit where two high level Ministers of Foreign and Defense affairs meet with their counterparts. India held this dialogue with the US, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom and Russia.
The US-India also cooperates through bilateral US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group and the Defense Policy Group. Both the states are cooperating in a wide range of areas like Defense and Security, synergy in clean energy, furthering space cooperation and people-to-people ties.
US-India cooperates closely in many multilateral forums including United Nations, G20, Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO).
Both the states also are involved in a diplomatic network called Quad along with Australia and Japan aimed at promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Shift in US Policy towards Pakistan
There have been visible signs of a change in US attitude towards Pakistan. It could be presumed that after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan has lost its strategic importance from the US perspective.
