Following US president Barack Obama's successful visit to the country, India is hoping to incorporate the state-of-the-art US technology to boost the potency of a planned aircraft carrier. The move is aimed at countering China's military influence in the region.
Meanwhile, some media reports have surfaced suggesting that US and India's nemeses - Russia and Pakistan - may be looking to renew their friendship.
The proposal for military cooperation between India and the United States has, however, not been confirmed; but obliquely referred to in a joint statement made towards the end of President Obama's visit to India, reports Reuters.
"India is destined to be a strategic partner of the United States," Ashton Carter, Obama's nominee for Defence Secretary, announced during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. While addressing the US Senate Armed Services Committee, he added that he personally would take a strong interest in strengthening US-India ties, if news of sharing aircraft carrier technology is confirmed. He further said that a "great deal" could be done to strengthen the military and defence technology cooperation between the "world's greatest democracy" and the "world's largest democracy".
Even though the news has not been confirmed, it would take at least a decade for such an Indian aircraft carrier to be ready. Nevertheless, the cooperation is expected to help bring a balance against China's escalating presence in the Indian Ocean.
The cooperation between India and US would also ensure that the former does not rely on Russia, US's greatest competition in terms of military expansion, for military hardware.
Meanwhile, India's arch enemy – Pakistan - is reportedly making efforts to warm up to Russia, which have been frosty since the Cold War. Pakistan is mulling over buying three dozen Russian Mi-35 helicopters and using the European nation's assistance to counter terrorism, narcotics, and meet chronic energy shortages, according to the guardian.
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