The US has deployed a pair of B-1B Lancer bombers to participate in exercises in India, marking the first time the aircraft is conducting drills in the country as military ties between Washington-New Delhi are growing.
The 2023 iteration of the US-India Cope Exercises is being held at the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. The drills started on April 13 and will last until April 24. Other US aircraft are participating, including F-15 fighter jets, C-130 cargo planes, and C-17 transport aircraft.
The first time American B-1 bombers landed in India was in 2021 for an air show. According to Air and Space Forces Magazine, B-1s have become a “regular sight” in the Indo-Pacific region lately as the US began sending them to fly with South Korea as tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to soar.
In recent years, the US has stepped up military cooperation with India as part of its strategy against China. The cooperation includes joint military exercises with the Quad nations, which includes Australia and Japan.
In 2020, the US and India signed an intelligence-sharing deal known as the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). The agreement has allowed the US to assist India with the surveillance of Chinese troops along the disputed border in the western Himalayas, known as the Line of Actual Control.
US News reported that the US provided India with unprecedented intelligence-sharing during an unarmed clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the LAC in December 2022.
The US is a very busy bee… Are we gearing up for something or is this just business as usual?…
Has anyone noticed that where there is conflict and trouble the US is in the middle or cause?:
Is the US the cause of the border wars between India and Pakistan, or Indo Chinese clashes in the frozen wastes of the Himalayas?
Yes. Feeding weapons. It is what we do.
India’s population is now larger than China’s so perhaps they are big enough to get in trouble on their own?
Here are their views about China’s intention about some contested islands (written from the Indian perspective) which may explain why they want some of our planes playing “tough guy” https://eurasiantimes.com/new-says-indian-ocean-is-not-indias-ocean-is-it-time/
But it’s not as if they are not playing both (or maybe it’s 3?) sides?
During a Russian-Indian business conference in New Delhi this week, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Alexander Babakov, suggested that Russia, China and India should trade using a common digital currency. He stated it was a top priority https://www.ledgerinsights.com/russia-digital-currency-russia-china-india-cbdc/
that sure sounds like the Russians want to expand that digital ruble they just rolled out:
Russia will officially start piloting digital ruble transactions with real consumers on April 1, according to Olga Skorobogatova, the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia. Thirteen banks are lined up to participate in the retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot https://www.ledgerinsights.com/russia-digital-currency-russia-china-india-cbdc/
India’s people volunteering to be canon fodders in an unnecessary US war against China would be a terrible disappointment. I know… I shouldn’t be disappointed. They previously fought for the British who actually enslaved them to support their colonial aggression all over the world. That would be human stupidity on full display again in the 21st century. …I still hope I’m wrong.
I hope you are wrong too NA…
Meanwhile,India faces nuclear armed hostile to the West,and nuclear armed China to the Northeast.The US and India are maintaining a balance of power as circumstances shift.
The balance of power usually means power in the hands of the US , the US dosen`t like sharing power ask the Europeans who just US LACKEYS and are just second fiddle , 500 million Europeans under the thumb of the Americans and cannon fodder for any NATO conflict with Russia .
The power wars are shifting to Asia,as the Asian economies are poised for growth.
Power wars are for juveniles. Biden is a perfect fit.
Next comes the offer of a base.
I am Indian and am disappointed in the people for re-electing Modi. He has made India less secular and moves it closer to the West despite India’s opposition to the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. India used to say US Bases in other nations was a bad idea.
Thank you for offering your thoughts PP500. It occurs to me that the deck is constantly reshuffling…