Policymakers in Delhi seems to have finally bitten the bullet by comprehensively gravitating towards USA by approving LEMA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement) . It's the biggest policy shift of independent India completely debunking Nehruvian Non Alignment foreign policy, since the treaty isn't signed yet only hope is some sanity might prevail in Modi government and India-US LEMA will be shelved or at least put in cold storage for good. The agreement sought by USA since 2004 is a definitive trap of US to suck in a democratic and independent foreign policy of India to gyrate towards Imperialist designs of US and allies in its misadventure of containing and perhaps confronting China.
In its bid to dominate Asia, a formidable alliance was necessary for US and given the scale of Indian economy,demography and geography its indispensability in US eyes is understandable . The Asian group involving potent players with formidable power projection was necessary to comprehensively counterweight Chinese hegemony in Asia. The four country alliance between Japan,Australia with India in middle while US acting as catalyst is for long envisaged by US policymakers. US already has alliance with Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (http://www.gov.ph/2014/04/29/document-enhanced-defense-cooperation-agreement/ ) to safeguard territorial integrity of Philippines (in response to Chinese - Philippines South China Sea dispute). The only objective of US to seek such alliances with disgruntled nations is to reassure its allies(Japan,Australia) about safety and thwart Chinese aggressive designs in Asia while maintaining its leadership position in the uni-polar world after the collapse of USSR .
The previous regimes in India have withstood the temptation to participate in such an alliance but present dispensation seems to have wilted under pressure. The LEMA gives clear advantage to US with logistics support provided at Indian bases, clearly this agreement has no meaning for India as we doesn't have any interventionist agenda abroad and thus access to US military bases for logistics is a far fetched and futile idea. The recent attempts by US to normalize relationship with Myanmar, engaging Vietnam, reestablishing American base at Subic Bay in Philippines, pledging support for Taiwan territorial integrity are few steps indicating US renewed attempts to marginalize China .
There are many reasons for abandoning overambitious treaty midway. This Indo-US LEMA agreement will sow the seeds of distrust between India and Russia, directly affecting bilateral relations. Russia had been a reliable partner and an all weather friend for India in international arena since beginning .Such adverse perception about India will create apprehensions among Russians endangering defense,nuclear and trade cooperation between two and eroding trust. The US allurement of providing cutting edge military technology to India is a trap of America to increase its foothold in South Asia and isolating Russia .
US is notoriously supporting Pakistan both financially and supplying lethal weapons on one pretext or other against farcical threat of terrorism to Pakistan. While "encouraging" India to continue dialogue process with Pakistan after every terrorist attack on Indian soil US lip service ritual of condemning terror is a crude joke and points towards dubious American policy of only furthering its interests.Thus trusting US friendship is a sin India can afford to ignore.
India has always maintained an independent foreign policy and becoming part of any aggressive group to poke China isn't in its best interests. Firstly,China is a vital economic partner of India with shared vision of multipolar world. Our emphasis should be on resolving border dispute with China amicably and weeding out distrust between two giant neighbors.Secondly China is cooperating extensively with India as visible in BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO). Thirdly, China isn't a weak country both militarily and economically so for India seeking confrontation is devoid of any merit. India has some unresolved border disputes with China but joining an alliance with US to unnecessarily confront will only jeopardize our national interests. Our national priorities should be economic prosperity and lifting downtrodden from clutches of poverty while war undermine these efforts.
Democrats(Obama,Clinton) and their party is anti-Indian and Pro-Pakis to the core. Republicans except Richard Nixon who was wrongly directed by Henry Kissinger were a bit better and the Bush Junior was definitely pro India but these arguments doesn't justify major policy shift and devoid of reasons to join American bandwagon . Modi government should explain to nation the justification in the paradigm shift in India's foreign policy. The threat perception to country or the pressure mounted on Modi government for foreign policy change should be debated in parliament and government should refrain from continuing the treaty unless consensus emerges.
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