Retired Indian generals and industry analysts say Indian officials have two reservations about buying American.
First, New Delhi worries about relying on US parts given the sanctions Washington imposed in 1998 when India went nuclear. In case of a war with archrival Pakistan – a US strategic ally – would Washington curtail military trade again?
Second, US law requires defense agreements to be signed by any country purchasing certain high-tech military equipment. The US failed during Obama’s visit last year to get Indian sign-off on two such agreements: the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), and the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMoA).
Are the Indians that confused? The current strategic environment is way different than in 1998, when we were still under the lingering views of the Cold War when India was a Soviet ally and seemed too distant for us to trust. Today we seek India as a partner. And India needs a partner given that in the short run at least, Chinese power is expanding faster than India's. yet India worries about baggage with a US-Indian arms sale relationship?
We may have some baggage--but not as much as the Indians fear--but who else can back up their weapons with real strategic partnership and possible help if it becomes crunch time for India? France? The EU? Russia? Sweden?
Get real. Only America provides that level of service with a decision to buy American. And as for support for weapons sold, just ask those "baggage-less" Europeans how many weapons they sell to Taiwan over Chinese objections.
India will get fine planes regardless of whose plane they choose, truth be told. But India is foolish if they think they get anything more than just the planes if they buy anything other than our planes.
