Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks throughout the Republican Nationwide Conference, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Picture/Paul Sancya) | Picture Credit score: AP
US Senator Marco Rubio on July 25 launched a invoice within the US Senate that proposes to deal with India on equal phrases with its allies like Japan, Israel, Korea and NATO allies in relation to expertise transfers and supporting India in its response to rising threats to its territorial integrity. It additionally proposes to bar Pakistan from receiving safety help whether it is discovered to have sponsored terrorism towards India.
“Communist China continues to aggressively develop its dominance within the Indo-Pacific area, whereas looking for to impede the sovereignty and autonomy of our regional companions. It’s essential that the US proceed its help to counter these malicious ways. India, together with different nations within the area, just isn’t alone,” Rubio stated after introducing the U.S.-India Protection Cooperation Act within the Senate.
What’s on the invoice?
The invoice notes that the US-India alliance is important to countering China’s affect and that enhancing our diplomatic, financial and navy strategic relationship with New Delhi is important.
Amongst different issues, the invoice would set up a Coverage Assertion underneath which the US will help India in its response to growing threats to its territorial integrity, present mandatory safety help to India to discourage adversaries, and cooperate with India on protection, civil house, expertise, drugs, and financial investments.
Given the brief timeframe of a bitterly divided Congress in an election yr, the invoice is unlikely to make a lot progress, nevertheless it might be reintroduced within the subsequent Congress given there’s bipartisan help for the India-US relationship.
When signed into legislation, it’s going to present India with a restricted exemption from CAATSA sanctions for purchases of Russian tools presently utilized by the Indian navy and streamline the method of promoting protection articles, providers, design and development providers, and main protection tools to India.
It proposes treating India as having equal standing with U.S. allies corresponding to Japan, Israel, Korea, and NATO allies with respect to expertise transfers; authorizing the Secretary of State to signal a memorandum of understanding with India to extend navy cooperation; expediting the cargo of surplus protection articles to India for 2 years and granting it equal standing with different allies; and increasing worldwide cooperation on navy training and coaching with New Delhi.
Invoice proposes banning Pakistan from receiving safety help
Requires a report back to Congress on Pakistan’s use of offensive pressure, together with via terrorism and proxy teams, towards India; and prohibits Pakistan from receiving safety help whether it is discovered to have sponsored terrorism towards India.
That is the primary time {that a} invoice focusing on India has been launched within the US Congress: it proposes placing India on the identical degree as its treaty allies, exempting it from CAATSA sanctions, and imposing sanctions on Pakistan for selling terrorism in India.
