In this conversation on The Gist, Nitin A. Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief of StratNewsGlobal, explains why he believes this Modi-Trump summit so early in the US president’s calendar, is useful for India.
“It’s better to get a sense upfront before he starts putting everything into stone, and then it becomes difficult for India to reverse. Also, most of the announcements are about intent, and some of the programs have just been renamed, Defence Innovation is now Indus Innovation.”
As far as COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) is concerned, this is something both sides are keen on.
“India for instance,” says Gokhale, “wants underwater domain technology, the US wants AI and Quantum to be in partnership with like-minded countries.”
It clearly works for both, but the other US intent is also clear, Gokhale notes. The US wants to sell more platforms to India because it’s a huge defence market. India is buying more P-8i maritime patrol aircraft, Chinook multi-mission helicopters are still pending and the Javelin missile which the US has been trying to sell for 15 years.
“The elephant in the room is the F-35, which for the first time a US president has actually named,” Gokhale pointed out, “the US will review its policy to release fifth generation platforms including 5th generation aircraft platforms and undersea technologies.”
This is what Trump intends to do although it will take time for this to materialise. The Indian Air Force will look at it, assess it, looking at efficiencies and cost. So it’s too early to say whether this aircraft will come to India or not.
“There will be a lot of pressure because India does need fifth generation aircraft,” Gokhale underscored.
The flip side is China. This Modi-Trump summit, which China would have closely monitored, may provide further proof among the top Chinese leadership that India has moved from cooperation to partnership with the US. That has implications for its India policy.
