US to transfer amphibious navy ship USS Trenton to India

http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2543 ^

[Srirangan]

With military ties growing, the U S is transferring one of its amphibitious ships USS Trenton to India to give the Indian Navy the capability to move troops and equipment to greater distances, a top American Commander has said.

The transfer is expected to take place sometime this December, Commander of the American Pacific Fleet Admiral Gary Roughhead told PTI here.

"USS Trenton', the Admiral said, will give capability to the Indian Navy to move troops and equipment to great distances and the ability to remain off shore for a prolonged period of time.

[Srirangan]

[operation clinton cleanup]

Not sure what the Indian Navy will do with it, but it seems better than scrapping it.

[outdriving]

"USS Trenton', the Admiral said, will give capability to the Indian Navy to move troops and equipment to great distances and the ability to remain off shore for a prolonged period of time."

So why does the Indian Navy need this capability and how does this enhance the security of the U.S.?

I'm not saying the Indians don't have every right to develop their armed forces in any way they choose. What I am saying is if this does not advance American interests in some way beyond the commissions of the middle men, let them build their own damned ship.

[Srirangan]

I'm no expert but the US and Indian Navy's have been jointly patrolling the Straits of Mallacca for a few years now.

Those are the passes in South East Asia, interestingly China, Japan etc. get's their oil through that sealane.

[gafusa]

It is good because India because we are taking India from Russia, and making them a closer ally. Someone is thinking up, with India, and the missile defense in Poland, we are checking the Russians, too bad we still let China run amok.

[Srirangan]

[magellan]

"So why does the Indian Navy need this capability and how does this enhance the security of the U.S.?

1. India is the world's most populous democracy.

2. South Asia, the area between Southwest Asia (a.k.a., the "Middle East") and Southeast Asia is emerging as the most strategic region of the world. Just as the Strait of Gibraltar was strategic in its day, the Straits of Mallacca are critical to the flow of oil from the middle east to key U.S. allies in the Pacific.

3. A strong India balances a strong China. Which is why building India as an ally is critical for the U.S. in the 21st century. Just as France was the critical ally in the 18th century to balance Britain, and the U.K. in the 20th century to balance first Germany and then the Soviet Union, India may be the key ally for the 21st century.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

You could see it as the U.S. taking India away from Russia. It could also be seen as India playing both the U.S. and Russia. Depends on your amount of skepticism.

[GarySpFc]

In early 2006 there were numerous press reports that the Indian Navy was negotiating with the United States for the purchase of this vessel. These reports later turned out to be true when the Indian government announced it will purchase Trenton for 50 Million USD. The US Government later revealed it asked their Indian Counterparts to keep this under wraps as they felt it would arm the Non-Proliferation Activists and threatened the passage of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal.

[pawdoggie]

A strong India balances a strong China. Which is why building India as an ally is critical for the U.S. in the 21st century. Just as France was the critical ally in the 18th century to balance Britain, and the U.K. in the 20th century to balance first Germany and then the Soviet Union, India may be the key ally for the 21st century.

Too true. Beyond that, the Indians may need an improved amphibious capability if Islamists take over Pakistan, or Bangladesh. The Indians might also be more inclined to participate in combined peace-keeping/peace enforcement operations if they have a better troop lift capability.

[sukhoi-30mki]

First of all,the Trenton will essentially be a stop-gap purchase for the Indian navy,which wil use it at the most for 15 years.It will help the IN develop the fundamentals for a real amphibious capability as well as enable to respond for humanitarian missions like the Asian tsunami or typhoons in Bangladesh.The IN is already evaluating the French Mistral LPD design which is also being considered by Australia.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I'm down with that. You have pointed out uses for the Trenton which I have not considered.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Srirangan knows why. There is a hell of a lot of modern pirates in those waters. Around Malaysia.

[Gondring]

One of the things for which I do give President Bush a great deal of credit is the way he's brought both Pakistan AND India closer to us, simultaneously. There is the flip side of "what have we given up for that"...but it seems our president has done a good job in limiting what the cost is to us, relative to gain.

[jome]

Cos India is a slowly(rapidly?) growing kid destined to be a huge giant..Its is a young, PEACE LOVING, democratic country which would be a key global power in the coming years, so it is good to cultivate ties at this very early stage of their emergence.