India, US prepare for ‘mini 2+2’ next month; weapon transfers on agenda

Post Pompeo and India declaring that the acquisition of the S-400 air defence system and other Russian weapons was in the national interest, India and the United States have begun preparing for a "mini 2+2" to be held in California next month. The two-day meeting, to be held at the US Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterey, begins on August 22.

Close ties with the US Pacific Command is certainly desirable, India is likely to say, but the reality of the Arabian Sea cannot be wished away. This is a reference to Pakistan and India would want closer ties with the US Central Command and the US Command in Africa. This comes at a time when the tensions between Iran and the United States are on the rise and India has already moved warships to the area to protect Indian shipping interests.

Another major point will relate to "coordination" vis-a-vis countries in the Indian Ocean like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. A senior government official said: "We should coordinate our dealings with some countries. If the USA is giving radars or choppers to one country, then, we would want to know. Then, we can offer these countries something else. We cannot be giving them the same things. So, they should tell us and together, there can be a credible alternative to buying from anyone else."

Weapons transfers are on the agenda and discussions are likely on ::

* Romeo multi-role helicopters (24 of them) through the Foreign Military Sales route. These are manufactured by Lockheed Martin. These can be used by the Navy, primarily for anti-submarine operations. This deal is worth about $2 billion. There is also a pending plan to purchase 30 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ten each for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

* TIMES NOW has already reported the first steps in the purchase of 10 additional P8I maritime surveillance planes for the Navy and also, sonobuoys to go with the purchase.

Discussions on new technologies are also likely. This could include lithium-ion technology, undersea navigation with GPS and the underwater charging of batteries.

The United States is likely to talk about closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including the freedom of navigation. The BECA or Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation could come up. But India prefers to sign the Industrial Security Agreement first. Both countries have a few problems with it.

There is also the possibility of an Indian Navy's liaison officer being attached to the US in Bahrain. He would be of the rank of a Captain or the equivalent of Colonel. Discussions on the tri-service exercise between the two countries are also likely. Joint Secretary / Major-General or equivalent level officers will participate in the meeting, a preparation for the 2+2 meeting later in the year in the US. The Indian External Affairs and Defence ministers and the US Secretaries of State and Defence will take part.

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