Replies

Military ties to India should be welcome given the free tradin' away of our technology and intellectual property to Red China that has enabled Red China to become a military threat to that whole region and the U.S. of A.

I still wonder however.. first I remember the Cold War "non aligned nations" headed by India that seemed to me to always back the U.S.S.R. I recall that India would not let us establish "listening posts" on India soil to monitor the Soviets and Pakistan did let us put those posts in their country. But that was then and this is now.

Then there are the conditions that the U.S. must meet to gain India's support.. as described by this news article from a few years ago.

U.S. Tech Holds Key to Indian Bases The Rediff Special/Josy Joseph in New Delhi

The author asks, "If the Americans were to enjoy access to Indian military bases, what will India expect in return?"

The article is based upon "Indo-US Military Relations: Expectations and Perceptions," a classified US defense department document in rediff.com's possession.

The U.S. defense department document "states that India would consider technology transfer as an 'important component' for a robust military relationship between the two countries."

This is about mutual defense and "friendship." The various countries where we [the U.S.] have "enjoyed" access to military bases have not demanded technology transfers for us shouldering most of the cost of their defense.

Key Indians interviewed in the report said, "America's reluctance to engage in focused technology transfer is a deal killer in the effort to construct an enduring strategic relationship." Indians placed technology transfer as the 'touchstone' of the new found strategic relationship and 'everything revolves around a strong US commitment to share its technologies so that India can advance'.

India maintains that the U.S. offered older aircraft technology. Officials also bridle at what they see as U.S. reluctance to transfer other sensitive technology, and Washington's insistence on after-sales, on-site inspections of equipment, part of U.S. policy to ensure sophisticated weapons aren't diverted to rogue states.

To me it looks like not much has changed from the information in the Indian press cited in my post #20.

“Indians placed technology transfer as the ‘touchstone’ of the new found strategic relationship and ‘everything revolves around a strong US commitment to share its technologies so that India can advance’.”

What exactly is wrong with that? Don't forget its the US that is asking for “access” to Indian bases. India isn't asking for “access” to American bases. So what should be India’ part of the bargain?

“This is about mutual defense and “friendship.” The various countries where we [the U.S.] have “enjoyed” access to military bases have not demanded technology transfers for us shouldering most of the cost of their defense.”

You can always have “friendship” without having bases on Indian soil. The various countries where US enjoys access to military bases need (and have asked) for US protection against another adversary. India never asked for US protection. If US wants bases, US has gotta offer more then just "friendship". India wants other stuff in return. If US doesn't like the deal, its still fine by India.

India's three biggest strategic allies Russia, France and Israel have no qualms giving India full access to their technology and they don't even have military bases in India.