India-US defence ties might undergo a paradigm shift with the visit of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter here on April 10 even as both sides are poised to sign the much-awaited military foundational agreements.
Inking of the three foundational agreements — Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) — between India and US is going to be topmost on Secretary Carter's agenda.
With the impending US Presidential elections, this is going to be Carter's last visit to India in his present capacity. Under the Obama administration, US-India defence co-operation reached the next level with US military exports reaching over $14 billion last fiscal and establishment of a bilateral Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) in 2012.
However, the US had been insisting on signing the three foundational pacts with India to enable greater technology transfer and easy flow of investments from American defence firms into India.
But India had been not much forthcoming in signing these because of widespread apprehensions that it might give America access to the country's sensitive defence information. There are also some who believe these pacts will empower US to coerce India into taking part in NATO's operations, according to the Ministry of Defence officials.
“This is consequential time for India-US defence ties. This may be Carter's final visit to Delhi as Secretary of Defence. As the most pro-India secretary in recent memory, people will look to see if his strong support for the partnership yields positive results. If progress can't be clearly seen, the next US administration may not devote as much focus to India," Ben Schwartz, Director - Defence and Aerospace, US-India Business Council (USIBC).
Schwartz said the foundational pacts are basically aimed at enhancing greater technology transfer and joint military collaboration and exercises.
Recently, the US government also passed the coveted US-India Defence Technology and Partnership Act (HR 4825), a rare status given to America's primary military allies.