The US wants to turn India into a center for resupplying and maintenance of naval vessels in South Asia as part of its military buildup against China in the region, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday.
The US has no military bases in India but has been working on increasing military ties with New Delhi in recent years. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Washington and signed a slew of defense agreements with President Biden.
According to Nikkei, the US will provide India with support to develop infrastructure to resupply, repair, and maintain ships and aircraft. Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the aim is to “make India a logistics hub for the United States and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The US Navy is working on signing deals with Indian shipyards as part of the effort. The idea is to make it easier for US warships and warplanes to operate in the region without having to travel too far for maintenance.
The US and India are both members of the Quad, a security grouping that also includes Australia and Japan. In 2020, the four nations began conducting joint military exercises, and US officials are calling for more joint air and naval deployments with India to counter China in the region.
The US has also increased cooperation with India over its disputed border with China in the Himalayas, known as the Line of Actual Control. According to a report from US News, the US provided India with unprecedented intelligence sharing that helped Indian troops in a clash with Chinese soldiers along the LAN in December 2022 that resulted in dozens of injuries.
I think that the government of India fully recognizes that US efforts to start a war with China are motivated by a determination to prevent China’s economy from becoming larger than the US economy. They must surely realize that if predictions that India’s economy surpasses the US economy by 2075, the same people in the Biden administration who see China as a threat also see India as a threat.
They must therefore walk a tightrope by trying to delay the coming confrontation for as long as possible. Fortunately, there are a few people left in Washington who realize that it is not in the interest of the US to stifle the economic progress of the people of India and China. Let us pray that such people are vindicated in the next US election.
“Fortunately, there are a few people left in Washington who realize that it is not in the interest of the US to stifle the economic progress of the people of India and China.” Was that a serious comment, sarcasm, or did you mean to say: “hopefully” rather than “fortunately?” I’ve never seen, met, or read about any of them. (Sarcasm)
There are some, like Bernie, who mouth the words.
I lifted that comment almost verbatim from something Janet Yellen said this week. Her actual comment was “It is not in the US’ interest to stifle the economic progress of the Chinese people, and that the US should applaud for China’s success in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. “
LOL. Okay, you got me.
Hmmm. Finally a comment by Jan that I can agree on.
Yelled must suck up to the Chinese cause they hold most of the western manufacturing cards. Nothing more.
And loads of US treasury securities that they can dump and collapse the US markets,
Well, it sounds like Yellen changed her mind when she arrived in China. I’m not criticizing you. Those people are scum and lie from both sides of their mouths.
Yet India is a member of BRICS who has a bigger GDP than the G7 plus Russia is still their largest arms supplier with France selling more than we are.
I surmise that with having the largest population just about everyone wants to be their friends and sell them stuff.
US is misunderstanding India. Willingly so. Has no choice. India is in nearly ideal position. It is laser focused on developing its economy. Unlike China and Russia that have been forced to respond to US crossing their red lines — India is still in a position that its red lines have not been crossed. It can continue having good relationship with US and its partners. And for as long as US does not object to India continuing strong relationship with Russia and China — the mutually beneficial relatiinships can continue. India sneeds time to establish the mind of internal cohesion present in Russia and China, and before inevitable happens, hope it does. Because invariably, US will tighten screws on India, create obstables, sticks and carrots. And fewer and fewer carrots. But by that time many other issues would have sorted themselves out.
Here are the two possibilities: Is India foolish? Or, is India not foolish– it’s just trying to get as much out of us before we become blood enemies? In other words, to be a fool, or not, that is the question. I mean, we’re different from the British. I don’t think it would bother us if we kill hundreds of millions of Ghandis if you catch my drift. I don’t think we would give a rat’s a$$. Hell, even Nikki Haley would be totally on board. Ask her. …What’s that? Someone already did? (Sarcasm)
India has some tough decisions to make.
While China has apparently resolved all of its border disputes with 13 of its neighbors, excluding India, India has issues with most of its neighbors.
Meanwhile, gas pipelines and BRI routes all around them can either be extended into their territory or not, their choice. They buy a lot of fossil fuels from Russia at a discount. Their stores are filled with Chinese goods. They buy Russian fossil fuels with Yuan, staying away from the US Dollar and also admitting that the Rupee is not strong enough for other nations to use as a reserve.
India can be a superpower. But it is a multi-decade project that will require strengthening their economy in substantial ways. When I was in India, I saw their genius and awesomeness. I also saw their corruption and despair.
And imho, they need to make peace with their neighbors. That is Pakistan and Bangladesh and China among others. I hope that India becomes a superpower. Their genius and awesomeness can help make the whole world a better place.
I agree. Corruption can stop them in their tracks because that’s how the US can make them trip and crash.
India will not say no to someone showering them with money. Large population means larger starving people. It’s a matter of not getting hooked on that wealth to alter their objective.
The only resource that they have is people and culture-no oil,metals,minimal foods.
And yet, U.S. is groveling like a hungry dog before their feet for those cheap labors.
Every neighbor of india hates India. I mean with regards to population. The only exception is Bhutan. This is not hyperbolic statement on my part but an actual reality. I hope India realizes if they play into us hands and act as an active belligerent against China China actually can f India up in it’s neighborhood. I m not talking about basket case pakistan only if China shows serious intent they can take out governments in India’s neighborhood aligned with India without firing a shot.
India playing both sides is dangerous provocation…! India plays with west in order to not jeopardize its economic trade with US…! India plays with East by being a member of BRICS which is an anti-west organization…! At the end, India will not be able to keep this double play and must choose between West & East…!
“US Plans Naval Logistics Hub in India as Part of Buildup Against China The US wants to be able to perform maintenance and resupply vessels in India”
Good luck with that. If anyone has traveled to India they know that bureaucracy and reams of paper forms are required to accomplish anything.
India is just another rabbit hole to pour dollars into!!!
India will come to regret anything it signs up for with the yanks , anyone with a brain knows the yanks are not to be trusted .