Page 55 - Diplomatists Nov

INDIA AND THE W ORLD

nations inking them in a relatively shorter time- Delhi to procure the much sought-after armed,
frame and with far less hassles. unmanned aerial vehicles from the US.

For India, engagement of the kind has always Yet, the real significance of the strenuously-
been a tight-rope walk, between political posturing negotiated foundation agreements should not be
and the inadvertent implications on its external analysed in isolation. When taken along with
ties. Internally, the usual criticism was that these the four-nation Quad, of which India and the US
agreements impinged upon the nation’s ‘strategic are partners along with Australia and Japan, the
autonomy’. However, compared to those before detractors of India and their articulation for a free
it, BECA pretty much breezed through with little and open Indo-Pacific Region, will see BECA as

resentment. At least a part of it owed to the national indicating a definite shift in New Delhi’s foreign
mood created by the border situation. and security policy. In the backdrop of continuing
border tensions with China, this could inadvertently
Politics and statecraft fuel reservations in the minds of even those
Over the past couple of decades, domestic nations that are have been friendly towards India,
politics has delayed bilateral strategic engagements even after the civilian nuclear deal, for instance.
to varying degrees of cynicism, especially in India. Russia and rival West European nations may wait
It is in this context that the 2+2 Dialogue and to comment on the current phase of the US-India

BECA are significant as they came on the eve of strategic relations.
a contested US presidential election. In India, the
Chinese occupation has changed the nation’s mood. Pertinent question
In the US, the BECA did not become an election From New Delhi, Secretary Pompeo headed to
issue, reaffirming bipartisan consensus on strategic Sri Lanka and Maldives. The reception in Sri Lanka

alliance and agreements with India. was lukewarm, owing to divergent positions on
The timing thus augurs well for the future of multiple aspects of bilateral relations, with China’s
bilateral strategic ties, considering that even the shadow being visible in the background – for both.
more important and even more visible civilian A warm reception awaited Pompeo in Maldives,
nuclear deal had faced political trouble, both where he announced the decision to open a full-

in the Indian Parliament and US Congress. The fledged US embassy in capital Male. Incidentally,
conclusion of the BECA on the eve of the US Pompeo was the first US Secretary of State to

presidential poll symbolises the secular separation visit Maldives since Colin Powell in 2004, and

of domestic affairs of a state from statecraft in his visit was preceded by the signing of a bilateral
both countries. De-hyphenating foreign policy and ‘Framework Agreement’ for defence and security
domestic politics acts not only as a barometer to cooperation, in September. Incidentally, the fi rst-
measure the progress in bilateral ties but is also a ever Secretary of State’ visit to the Maldives was
pointer to the emerging equilibrium in bilateral ties. in 1992 by James Baker.
With the US having seemingly stabilised
Not a game-changer, but… India relations, it is pertinent to ask why it wants
BECA, on its own, is not a game-changer. to deepen the ties with Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Rather, it is one more cog in a large wheel. BECA It is one thing if the US aims at ‘denial’ for
does not imply that India is a treaty ally of the China’s strategic initiatives in the region. Still, a
US, nor does it indicate unquestionable American lot will depend on how far India has been taken
support for India in all times of ‘strategic distress’. into confidence, when and how. Otherwise, any

However, the utility value of the agreement independent strategic initiatives of the Maldives
for India lies in having access to geo-spatial kind with Sri Lanka or any other country in South
intelligence from US agencies. This information Asia including India’s land neighbours, can make
primarily can pinpoint the geographical location New Delhi uncomfortable, if only over a period,
of any human activity of interest. not only in the context of the immediate region but
In the Indian context, geospatial intelligence also in terms of its engagement in the Indo-Pacifi c
could help in the Indian security establishment Region, though not necessarily to the Cold War
in mapping the exact locations of military assets levels!
across the border(s). However, the real importance
of BECA, along with the India-specific version of *Author is Assistant Professor at O.P. Jindal

CISMOA, is that it now opens the door for New Global University (JGU)

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 8 • Issue 9 • November 2020, Noida • 55