India Quad Archive

[Gessler]

Visakhapatnam [Andhra Pradesh], August 3 (ANI): USS Frank Cable AS40 (American naval warship), a submarine support vessel arrived in the port city of Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

One of the forward-deployed submarine tenders, the USS Frank Cable, is on a scheduled deployment in the area of operations of the US 7th Fleet to conduct maintenance and support for surface ships and submarines of the US Naval Force that are stationed in the Indo-Pacific region. The naval vessel and its soldiers will visit and interact with local naval officials.

Emory S. Land-class Submarine Tender
​

The Emory S-Land class submarine tender, USS Frank Cable is on a week-long visit to Visakhapatnam.

Speaking to ANI, the Public affairs officer of US Navy ship, Jonathan B Trejo said, “The United States is a proud Indo-Pacific nation. We share our vision with our allies in the region and are committed to it. This vision has five core elements including a free and open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient and secure region.”

On being asked about how the relationship of the US with India has been evolving, Jonathan said, “Our relationship with India is very dynamic and prosperous right now. The military ties are very strong and are further developing. Additionally, we have great trade and economic relations as well as people-to-people ties. So many US citizens live in India and vice versa. More and more Indian students visit the US and we are proud of that tradition.”

USS Frank Cable Supporting Los Angeles-class Submarine USS Oklahoma City
​

Notably, due to the convergence of geopolitical interests and concerns, India and the United States in recent years have pushed ahead with strengthening defence ties. Lately, several high-level visits have taken place between both countries, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the US for the fourth India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The Dialogue was preceded by a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden. (ANI)

USS Frank Cable AS40 arrives in India on week-long visit

Visakhapatnam [Andhra Pradesh], August 3 (ANI): USS Frank Cable AS40 (American naval warship), a submarine support vessel arrived in the port city of Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. One of the forward-deployed submarine tenders, the USS Frank Cable, is on a scheduled deployment in the area of...

theprint.in

++++​

Comment: Either Vizag is gonna turn into one of the places where USN ships/subs might dock for replenishment, much like how Soviet vessels used to do back in the Cold War; Or, we're looking to refurbish & buy one of these ships for our own use down the line.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1556275990745456640

US Navy ship docks in India for the first time for repairs | India News - Times of India

India News: As part of the ever-expanding bilateral defence and military ties, a US Navy ship has docked in India for the first time for repairs and allied servic

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1559906502932316160

 

[Nilgiri]

Indian Sukhois, C-17 touch down in Australia for major multi-nation 'Pitch Black' exercise | India News - Times of India

India News: NEW DELHI: Four Indian Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and two C-17 Globemaster-III strategic aircraft have touched down in Australia for the major `Pitch B.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: Four Indian Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and two C-17 Globemaster-III strategic aircraft have touched down in Australia for the major `Pitch Black’ air combat exercise, which will see participation of around 100 aircraft and 2,500 military personnel from 17 nations.

On way to the Darwin base in Australia, the Sukhois were refuelled mid-air by tankers of the French Air & Space Force, which is taking part in the exercise along with the air forces from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and UAE.

The exercise will focus on “large force employment warfare” from August 19 to September 8. “The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain YPS Negi, will undertake multi-domain air combat missions in a complex environment and will exchange best practices with the participating air forces,” an officer said on Friday.

The Pitch Black comes after the IAF also sent Sukhoi fighters and C-17 aircraft for the “tactical leadership programme” to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) Weapon School at Cairo West Airbase, which saw its aircrew also take part as instructors, in June-July.

Earlier this month, an IAF contingent of four Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, a C-17 aircraft and an IL-78 mid-air refueller had also left for Malaysia to participate in the bilateral `Udarashakti’ air combat exercise, even as India also remains the frontrunner to sell the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft to the Southeast Asian nation.
Since the IAF last participated in the Pitch Black exercise in 2018, India and Australia have cranked up their military ties and engagements in a major way as an important pillar of the bilateral `comprehensive strategic partnership’.

Australia has also become a regular participant in India’s top-notch Malabar naval exercise with the US and Japan, with the four “Quad” countries declaring their intent to deter any “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific with an eye firmly on China.

China’s expansive military build-up and its assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific is the `biggest security anxiety’ for both Australia and India, Australian deputy PM Richard Marles had said during his visit here in June.

Noting that India and Australia were now `strategically-aligned’ like never before in history, Marles had stressed the need for the two nations to work even closer to protect the global rules-based order that has brought prosperity to the region.

Referring to the over two-year-long military confrontation between India and China in eastern Ladakh, Marles had said, “When we look at what happened at the Line of Actual Control, what we are seeing is that one country (China) is seeking to deal with its disputes not through the established set of rules but through power and use of force.”

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1560891358872625152

 

[Nilgiri]

@Blackbeardsgoldfish (when you are here next) , an interesting interview that does get into some depth about the taiwan situation and how (realist driven) China perceives war in general.

The broader interview topics are also explored quite well.
@AlphaMike

ex-PM Rudd is certainly one of the most cognisant and eloquent western leaders about China.

@MisterLike , @Ryder wonder what your impressions are of (former PM) Kevin Rudd if you have any.

 

[Gessler]

@Blackbeardsgoldfish (when you are here next) , an interesting interview that does get into some depth about the taiwan situation and how (realist driven) China perceives war in general.

The broader interview topics are also explored quite well.
@AlphaMike

ex-PM Rudd is certainly one of the most cognisant and eloquent western leaders about China.

@MisterLike , @Ryder wonder what your impressions are of (former PM) Kevin Rudd if you have any.

In my opinion, he's the one who scuttled the first Quad and chose to stand with China,

But more recently, he has made a 180-degree turn on his policy and has quickly become one of Australia's most prominent 'China hawks'. Just saying...I think this is a guy who loves to sail with the wind.

 

[Nilgiri]

In my opinion, he's the one who scuttled the first Quad and chose to stand with China,

He has countered this impression and I have yet to see a re-counter from others (Liberal politicians in aus or other quad leaders/diplomats):

Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd writes to TSG, says he didn’t torpedo the Quad - The Sunday Guardian Live

The suggestion that my government “torpedoed” the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between Australia, India, the United States and Japan is nothing

www.sundayguardianlive.com

The fact is Australia withdrew from the idea of a Quad under my conservative predecessor, John Howard—not me. This announcement was delivered by Australian officials to our trilateral partners, Japan and America, in Washington in July 2007—a fact documented in a State Department cable subsequently published by Wikileaks. The Howard government then announced this publicly through its Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson during his tour Beijing and New Delhi later that month. The reality therefore is that by the time my government came to power in December 2007, there was simply no Quad to even torpedo.
Furthermore, no other government was willing to pursue it. Its biggest advocate, Shinzo Abe of Japan, had been replaced by Yasuo Fukuda by late 2007, who rejected Abe’s vision for both the Quad and an alliance of democracies. The Bush administration in the United States, which sought Beijing’s support to confront Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs, was adamant that there would be no quadrilateral meetings “at the ministerial or sub-ministerial level”. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressly rejected any four-way security dialogue, saying it “never got going” and he was going to prioritise India-China relations as an “imperative necessity”. That was on January 10, 2008—almost a month before my government acknowledged the consensus position of the Quad capitals and reaffirmed the Howard position.

He re-iterates this in the Stratnews interview as well.

But more recently, he has made a 180-degree turn on his policy and has quickly become one of Australia's most prominent 'China hawks'. Just saying...I think this is a guy who loves to sail with the wind.

That is a generic multipartisan phenomenon in the West as they woke/wake up (slowly) to the fact that Zemin+Jintao CCP factions would not persevere as they expected in earlier perceived trajectory.....much less prevail vis-a-vis "new" factions harnessed and now entrenched by Xi Jinping.

I don't single Rudd out on that especially given Australia is not a significant power in the first place (to buck against say what the US was doing w.r.t China relations in the 2000s and 2010s) and relies very much on natural resource trade.

 

[Mis_TR_Like]

@MisterLike , @Ryder wonder what your impressions are of (former PM) Kevin Rudd if you have any.

When he was Prime Minister I was still a child. He was quite a wacky leader. I mainly remember him for his comedic moments. I must say he sounds a lot more mature and astute in this interview.

Like most Australian politicians, he is jumping on the anti-China bandwagon. 10 years ago things were much different. There was a lot more cooperation between Australia and China back then. Now that the USA sees China as the greatest threat to its hegemony, Australia has no choice but to abandon its largest trading partner. I think India will eventually replace China as Australia's largest trade partner.

 

[Nilgiri]

Malabar exercise between navies of India, Japan, US, Australia begins

"The multilateral Ex #Malabar22 b/n the navies of India, Japan, Australia, US began today with an opening ceremony hosted by the #JMSDF onboard JS Hyuga at Yokosuka, #Japan. RAdm Sanjay Bhalla #FOCEF led the Indian delegation comprising COs & crew of #INSShivalik & #INSKamorta at the ceremony,"...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

The multilateral exercise, Malabar 2022, between the navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia commenced on Wednesday with the opening ceremony hosted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force onboard JS Hyuga at Yokosuka in Japan.

Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, led the Indian delegation which includes commanding officers and the crew of INS Shivalik and INS Kamorta.

"The multilateral Ex #Malabar22 b/n the navies of India, Japan, Australia, US began today with an opening ceremony hosted by the #JMSDF onboard JS Hyuga at Yokosuka, #Japan. RAdm Sanjay Bhalla #FOCEF led the Indian delegation comprising COs & crew of #INSShivalik & #INSKamorta at the ceremony," Indian Navy spokesperson said in a tweet.

Vice Admiral Yuasa Hideki, Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet JMSDF, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander, US Navy Seventh Fleet and Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, Commander of Australian Fleet participated in the opening ceremony alongside personnel from their respective navies. Indian Naval ships Shivalik and Kamorta arrived in Japan on November 2 to participate in exercise Malabar 2022 and International Fleet Review (IFR).

Malabar Exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between the navies of India and the US. Japan joined the Malabar exercise in 2015, making it a trilateral exercise. In 2020, Australia became part of Malabar, making it a quadrilateral naval exercise.

India, US, Australia and Japan are also part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar is on an official visit to Japan where he witnessed the International Fleet Review (IFR) conducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force at Yokosuka on Nov 6 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of its formation.

During his visit, he also met naval chiefs of the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force and US Navy. The Malabar series of exercises has seen increasing scope and complexity over the years.

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta also arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on November 2 to participate in the IFR and Exercise Malabar - 2022.

The presence of these indigenously built ships of the Indian Navy at these multi-national events is an opportunity to showcase the ship-building capabilities of Indian Shipyards during a large international gathering.

================================================================

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1588049171332091909

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1590249234061996032

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1588866194282799104

 

[Zapper]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1590250213176127488

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1590853128509083648

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1597458972705189888

 

[Nilgiri]

Australia and India conducting joint military exercise ‘Austra Hind’ in deserts of Rajasthan | The Australia Today

Exercise "Austra Hind" will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternately in India and Australia.

www.theaustraliatoday.com.au

Exercise "Austra Hind" will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternately in India and Australia.​

UPDATED 29 November 2022
BYJAI BHARADWAJ

The bilateral training exercise “Austra Hind 22” between contingents of the Australian Army and the Indian Army is taking place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.

The exercise started on November 28 and will continue till December 11.

According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, this is the first exercise in the series of ‘Austra Hind’ with the participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies. The Australian Army contingent comprising soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division has arrived at the exercise location.

The Indian Army is represented by troops from the DOGRA Regiment.

Exercise “Austra Hind” will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternately in India and Australia.

The aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in Semi deserts terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate, said the Indian Defence Ministry statement.

This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations at Company and Platoon level for neutralising hostile threats.

Training on new generation equipment and specialist weapons including snipers, surveillance and communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness apart from casualty management, casualty evacuation and planning logistics at the Battalion/Company level is also planned, the statement added.

During the exercise participants will engage in a variety of tasks ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, sharing basics of special arms skills and raiding a hostile target.

The joint exercise, besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, will further help in strengthening ties between India and Australia.

================================================

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1599992214561734656

 

[Gessler]

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being “deepened and strengthened” more rapidly than between the two countries over the last 20 years.

Responding to a question on India during his appearance at the Aspen Security Forum meeting here on Thursday, Kurt Campbell, the White House Asia Coordinator, said that in his view India is the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century. “The fact is, I don’t know of any bilateral relationship that is being deepened and strengthened more rapidly than the United States and India over the last 20 years,” he told a Washington audience.

The United States needs to invest even more of its capacity, and build in people-to-people ties, working together on technology and other issues, he said.

“India has a unique strategic character. It will not be an ally of the United States. It has the desire to be an independent, powerful state and it will be another great power. But I think there are reasons to believe that our strategic alignment is growing across the board in almost every arena,” Campbell said. There are inhibitions in both of the bureaucracies and there are many challenges, he acknowledged.

“But I do believe that this is a relationship that should have some ambition. We should look at things that we can do together, whether it’s in space, whether it’s education, whether it’s on climate, whether it’s on technology, and really move in that direction,” he said.

“If you look over the last 20 years and look at the hurdles that have been surmounted and the depth of engagement between our two sides, it’s remarkable,” he said.

India-US relationship, he asserted, is not simply built on anxiety around China. “It is a deeper understanding of the importance of the synergies between our societies,” he said, adding that the Indian diaspora here is a powerful connection. Campbell acknowledged that Indians were ambivalent when President Joe Biden and his administration decided to take the Quad to the leader level.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the resource-rich region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. China also has territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

“There were probably voices in their bureaucracy that were against it. But when President Biden made the direct appeal repeatedly to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, they decided that this was in their interests,” he said.

The US is working very constructively with its Indian partners on the major set of initiatives in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, in maritime domain awareness and education, the White House official said. “I’m thrilled to say that Prime Minister (Anthony) Albanese of Australia has invited us in 2023 for a major Quad meeting that we think will extend our coordination, and cooperation, not just in Southeast Asia, and the Indo- Pacific as well,” he said.

“I’m very bullish on the Quad. I think it will remain an unofficial venue. But it has many lines of communication, and it’s led to strengthening and deepening of coordination between these four key maritime democracies,” Campbell said. The Quad, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a group of four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.

India will not be an ally of US, but another great power: White House official

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being “deepened and strengthened” more rapidly than between the two...

theprint.in

++++

Campbell has a very good reading of India's strategic aspirations & the nature of the relationship with US.​

 

[Afif]

they are just messing around for their own interest!
the best thing could ever happen for this region is, if CHINA and INDIA can solve their issues bilaterally on their own.
But this is probably wont happen anyway.

 

[TR_123456]

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being “deepened and strengthened” more rapidly than between the two countries over the last 20 years.

Responding to a question on India during his appearance at the Aspen Security Forum meeting here on Thursday, Kurt Campbell, the White House Asia Coordinator, said that in his view India is the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century. “The fact is, I don’t know of any bilateral relationship that is being deepened and strengthened more rapidly than the United States and India over the last 20 years,” he told a Washington audience.

The United States needs to invest even more of its capacity, and build in people-to-people ties, working together on technology and other issues, he said.

“India has a unique strategic character. It will not be an ally of the United States. It has the desire to be an independent, powerful state and it will be another great power. But I think there are reasons to believe that our strategic alignment is growing across the board in almost every arena,” Campbell said. There are inhibitions in both of the bureaucracies and there are many challenges, he acknowledged.

“But I do believe that this is a relationship that should have some ambition. We should look at things that we can do together, whether it’s in space, whether it’s education, whether it’s on climate, whether it’s on technology, and really move in that direction,” he said.

“If you look over the last 20 years and look at the hurdles that have been surmounted and the depth of engagement between our two sides, it’s remarkable,” he said.

India-US relationship, he asserted, is not simply built on anxiety around China. “It is a deeper understanding of the importance of the synergies between our societies,” he said, adding that the Indian diaspora here is a powerful connection. Campbell acknowledged that Indians were ambivalent when President Joe Biden and his administration decided to take the Quad to the leader level.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the resource-rich region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. China also has territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

“There were probably voices in their bureaucracy that were against it. But when President Biden made the direct appeal repeatedly to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, they decided that this was in their interests,” he said.

The US is working very constructively with its Indian partners on the major set of initiatives in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, in maritime domain awareness and education, the White House official said. “I’m thrilled to say that Prime Minister (Anthony) Albanese of Australia has invited us in 2023 for a major Quad meeting that we think will extend our coordination, and cooperation, not just in Southeast Asia, and the Indo- Pacific as well,” he said.

“I’m very bullish on the Quad. I think it will remain an unofficial venue. But it has many lines of communication, and it’s led to strengthening and deepening of coordination between these four key maritime democracies,” Campbell said. The Quad, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a group of four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan.

India will not be an ally of US, but another great power: White House official

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) India, which has a unique strategic character, will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being “deepened and strengthened” more rapidly than between the two...

theprint.in

++++

Campbell has a very good reading of India's strategic aspirations & the nature of the relationship with US.​

So,a great power cant be an ally?
Thats what i got from the title.

 

[Gessler]

So,a great power cant be an ally?
Thats what i got from the title.

Simply put, no.

To be an ally, at some level you have to become subservient to the US strategically. This will not be acceptable to India, and not doing it won't be acceptable to the US.

However, this doesn't mean that there can't or won't be a strategic convergence of interests, which is what he is also alluding to. The primary cause for the current convergence is China.

When & if that problem is solved, the relationship will be reassessed given the new political realities of that time.

I think its quite healthy that both sides here are fairly clear on the fact that their's is a relationship of convenience.

 

[Kedikesenfare]

What or who is an ally of the US? Do you have to be a member state of NATO? Or culturally related to the Anglosaxone spheres like the Australians?

Well, the answer is easy and very unspectacular:

Every state that can be convinced to assist the US exert its power globally in order to support the American hegemony is seen as an ally in the eyes of the decision makers in Washington.

India is most definitely in the American camp if we apply this definition. Having an influential community in the US is not a one-way street. Those ladies and gentlemen in Washington and New York helping the Indian cause will also be used by the US elites to change perspectives in New Delhi.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://YOUR POSTS ARE SPAM. IT WIL...hich-comes-into-effect-from-today-news-249226

The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Australia, came into effect from Thursday, December 29. The much awaited deal between the two countries will bolster trade ties and will help boost bilateral trade in goods and services to cross $70 billion in the next five years, according to economic think tank GTRI.

India's goods exports to Australia stood at $8.3 billion and imports from the country aggregated to $16.75 billion in 2021-22.

The FTA deal will help both the countries gain from exports and imports.

Here are key things to know about India-Australia Free Trade Agreement​

The FTA between the two countries officially known as Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries.

The ECTA between India and Australia covers almost all the tariff lines dealt in by India and Australia respectively. India will benefit from preferential market access provided by Australia on 100 per cent of its tariff lines. This includes all the labour-intensive sectors of export interest to India such as gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, food, and agricultural products, engineering products, medical devices, and Automobiles.

On the other hand, India will be offering preferential access to Australia on over 70 per cent of its tariff lines, including lines of export interest to Australia which are primarily raw materials and intermediaries such as coal, mineral ores and wines etc.

Australia has offered wide ranging commitments in around 135 sub sectors and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) in 120 sub sectors which cover key areas of India’s interest like IT, ITES, business services, health, education, and audio visual.

Some of the key offers from Australia in the services space include: Quota for chefs and yoga teachers; Post study work visa of 2-4 years for Indian students on reciprocal basis; mutual recognition of professional services and Other licensed/regulated occupations; and work & holiday visa arrangement for young professionals.

While, India has offered market access to Australia in around 103 sub-sectors and Most Favoured Nation in 31 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors such as ‘business services’, ‘communication services’, ‘construction and related engineering services’, and so on. Both sides have also agreed to a separate Annex on Pharmaceutical products under this agreement, which will enable fast track approval for patented, generic and biosimilar medicines.