Relevance: GS Paper II
Why has this issue cropped up?
The first round of the India-U.S. 2+2 talks at the level of External Affairs and Defence Ministry and their US counterparts is to take place in September.
Emergence of 2+2 dialogue
The following factors have contributed to the emerging strategic convergence and hence the 2+2 dialogue:
- COLD WAR: The end of the Cold War provided an opportunity to both countries to review their relationship in the light of changing global and regional realities.
- ECONOMY: Second, with the opening of the Indian economy, the American private sector began to look at India with greater interest. Trade and FDI grew continuously reflecting a sustained mutual interest.
- DIASPORA: The third factor is the political coming of age of the three-million-strong Indian diaspora.
- DEFENCE: Today, the U.S. is the country with which India undertakes the largest number of military exercises. .In 2016, India was designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ country.
- LOGISTICS: India and US signed the logistics support agreement in 2016. It facilitates logistics supplies during port visits and joint exercises.
- COMCASA: Now the India-specific Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) is likely to be signed. It makes it possible to install high-end secure communication equipment on U.S. platforms that we have been acquiring.
Difficult issues that 2+2 dialogue can address
Two difficult issues loom large and the 2+2 offers an opportunity for addressing these.
- CAATSA: The first is the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) enacted last year which enables the U.S. government to sanction countries that engage in ‘significant transactions’ with Russian military and intelligence entities. Indian concerns on this need to be addressed.
- SANCTIONS ON IRAN: The second relates to U.S. sanctions on Iran after its unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Iranian crude imports have grown significantly in recent years and India also stepped up its involvement in developing Chabahar port.
Conclusion
Creative thinking will be needed in the 2+2 dialogue to overcome the challenges. In order to realize the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region, both countries will have to nurture the habit of talking and working together to diminish some of the prickliness in the partnership.
