Panel Discussion on U.S.- India Military Operational Engagement and Cooperation

Speakers: Adml. Karambir Singh (Retd), Air Marshal (Dr.) M. Matheswaran (Retd), Dr. Bryan Clark. 

Discussants: Captain (Dr.) Gurpreet Singh Khurana (Retd), Ms. Lisa Curtis

Coordinators: Dr. Deepa Ollapally & Dr. Manoharan N. 

Date: 18 April 2024

Time: 6:00-7:30 pm (IST) - 8:30-10:00 am (EST) 

Key Takeaways

The Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS), Christ University, in collaboration with George Washington University, held the fourth virtual meeting of the project on "Partners in Progress: How Does the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Matter?" on 18 April 2024.

The purpose of the fourth virtual meeting featured a panel discussion, 'U.S. - India Military Operational Engagement and Cooperation.' The primary objective of this session is to assess the status of military operational cooperation between India and the U.S., delineating whether it predominantly exists as an aspiration concept or has evolved into operational collaboration. The session sought to provide insights into the current state and potential avenues for enhancing cooperation between the two nations. The discussion aimed to explore the significance of the U.S.-India strategic partnership and facilitate cooperation on strategic affairs. The virtual meeting aimed to provide background information on dialogues and talks that lead to bilateral policies and decisions, with the goal of promoting cooperation on the ground. The meeting brought together distinguished panelists, experts and participants to discuss these issues and share insights through discussions, questions and suggestions that experts believe should be addressed.  

Dr. Manoharan N., Director, Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS), Christ University, began the session with a warm welcome address, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr. Deepa Ollapally, Research Professor, George Washington University.

The first speaker, Admiral Karambir Singh (Retd.), emphasised the depth and breadth of collaboration between the two countries, which includes numerous bilateral discussion structures as well as apex-level conversations on defence and security cooperation. He explained the entire nature of the global strategic alliance, citing the 2015 10-year framework for US-India defence relations as the core of the cooperation.

Admiral Singh addressed common interests shared by both nations, particularly in maintaining a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted the challenges posed by China and stressed the need for collective efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. In operational terms, Admiral Singh aimed to highlight the progress made in cooperation between the U.S. Navy and the Indian Navy, moving from aspiration to operational levels. He outlined the extensive engagements between the two navies, including exercises and exchanges at various levels, both vertically and horizontally. Admiral Singh identified opportunities for deeper and more meaningful cooperation, leveraging India's geographical location and its standing with countries in the global South. He suggested avenues for expanding the utilization of foundational agreements and enhancing collaboration in the maritime domain, including maritime domain awareness and underwater domain awareness.

The second speaker, Air Marshal (Dr.) M. Matheswaran (Retd) delved into various aspects of the operational challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the Air Force. He recounted historical milestones, tracing back to the aftermath of the 1962 war, where efforts commenced between the two Air Forces. He highlighted significant moments such as the collaboration in training with the U.S. and the deployment of radar systems in the 1960s. Throughout the years, there was a gradual increase in collaboration, particularly evident in exercises like Pope Thunder and Pope India. He emphasized the significance of operational exercises like Red Flag, which provided crucial learning experiences for both sides. The speaker discussed the evolution of collaboration, noting milestones such as the participation of B-1 bombers in exercises, indicating a deepening strategic partnership.

Addressing challenges, Air Marshal Matheswaran pointed out issues like interoperability and industrial partnerships, stressing the importance of trust-building and overcoming bureaucratic hurdles. He highlighted the progress made in technology transfer and operational training, citing initiatives like the School of Advanced Airpower Studies. He concluded by underlining the opportunities presented by India's openness to collaboration and joint ventures, emphasizing the potential for both countries to benefit from shared industrial partnerships and strategic cooperation.

The final speaker, Dr. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, addressed the American perspective on military cooperation. Dr. Clark's insights shed light on the dynamic nature of U.S.-India military cooperation and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in strengthening this strategic partnership.

Dr. Clark, a former submarine officer with extensive experience in defense strategy and technology, provided insights into the evolving relationship between the United States and India.

He noted that U.S.-India military cooperation has experienced significant growth in the past two decades, with a particularly notable acceleration in the last ten years. He highlighted bilateral and multilateral exercises as crucial platforms for enhancing interoperability and understanding between the two countries. Cope India, for instance, served as an opportunity for the U.S. to learn from Indian capabilities in modern electronic warfare. Dr. Clark emphasized the importance of technical interoperability alongside procedural interoperability. While procedural alignment has been a focus in past cooperation efforts, technical compatibility, including communication and command systems, is becoming increasingly vital for effective joint operations. Challenges remain, especially in naval and air operations where disparate systems pose obstacles to seamless cooperation. Looking ahead, Clark identified promising areas for enhanced technical interoperability, such as undersea domain awareness and unmanned systems. He highlighted the potential for shared technology and standardized communication protocols to facilitate joint operations. However, he cautioned that achieving such interoperability would require addressing bureaucratic hurdles and possibly rethinking maintenance strategies to sustain U.S. naval presence in the Indian Ocean.

Captain (Dr.) Gurpreet Singh Khurana (Retd) remarked on the discussion, focusing on several key issues. He began by emphasizing the ultimate goal of India-U.S. defense cooperation, highlighting the importance of operational cooperation in countering disruptive actors, whether state or non-state. He stressed the significance of military interoperability and capacity building through defense industry cooperation, noting their role in translating potential into practical cooperation. He acknowledged the progress made in transitioning from aspiration levels to operational deliverables. He mentioned the historical reluctance of India to participate in coalition operations without a UN mandate but highlighted recent developments where the Indian Navy became a full member of the combined maritime forces, undertaking significant operations. However, he also pointed out nuances and challenges, particularly regarding command and control chains, rules of engagement, and divergences in interpretations, such as freedom of navigation. He acknowledged the need for India to revise its domestic laws but also highlighted areas where the U.S. needs to align, especially regarding traditional customary law. He addressed the importance of procedural interoperability challenges to fully realize technological interoperability's potential. Despite acknowledging progress, he cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need to overcome challenges to achieve operational cooperation effectively. Lastly, he endorsed initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and emphasized the importance of naval engagement with Southwest Pacific States, not just to counter Chinese influence but also for potential operational cooperation in case of conflict with China.

The second discussant, Ms. Lisa Curtis, a senior fellow and director of the Indo-Pacific Security program in DC, Ms. Curtis emphasized on the depth of the U.S.-India military operational cooperation, noting its insulation from bilateral political issues and external factors. She highlighted the significant number of joint exercises conducted between the two countries over the past two decades, underscoring the importance of such collaborations. Ms.Curtis referenced specific exercises, such as the tri-services exercise Tiger Triumph and the UDAVIA Boss exercise, to illustrate the growing trust and confidence between the U.S. and Indian militaries. She also discussed the potential for increased maritime security cooperation, particularly in response to Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean region. Reflecting on the 2020 India-China border crisis, the discussant noted the pivotal role played by the U.S. in providing support to India, which led to enhanced mutual confidence and cooperation. She emphasized India's cautious approach towards potential crises in the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea, while highlighting its critical role in the Indian Ocean region. Addressing challenges, Lisa discussed India's continued reliance on Russian military equipment and its implications for U.S.-India cooperation, particularly in high-tech sharing. She acknowledged the political complexities involved in such decisions, including the role of various stakeholders and the U.S. Congress. She concluded by highlighting the need to navigate the challenges while recognizing the opportunities for further cooperation between the US and India. She ended her remarks on a cautious note, acknowledging the obstacles ahead but expressing hope for continued progress.

Questions posed by participants:

• India has been extensively exercising with the U.S. for several years now, and the complexity of these exercises has only increased. So, are the Indian armed forces and the U.S. armed forces moving towards a way that allows the countries to fight wars together? The recent exercises, such as Tiger Triumph, showcased significant joint operations, which could be perceived as operational messaging, particularly concerning China. Considering China's potential response, are we preparing the two forces to fight together pending political will to formalize such cooperation?

Air Marshall, (Dr.) M. Matheswaran (Retd) responded by acknowledging the absence of a formal alliance commitment between India and the U.S., making it difficult to envision both forces fighting together unless under catastrophic circumstances. However, he anticipated material and technical support from both sides in the event of a conflict with China, emphasizing the importance of intelligence sharing in such scenarios.

Admiral Karambir Singh (Retd.) addressed the question by highlighting the significance of joint amphibious operations in enhancing tri-service joint operations. He emphasized the need for continuous efforts to improve interoperability between the Indian and U.S. forces, particularly in medium-level combat scenarios. Adml Singh emphasized the importance of not being found wanting in capability if circumstances dictate the need for joint operations. He concluded by stressing the importance of both the "if" and "when" aspects in preparing for potential joint operations, indicating that preparation is ongoing, driven by the necessity of being ready should the situation demand it.

• What progress has been made, specifically in terms of tangible outcomes on the ground, if any? How do we overcome this problem of expectation from the U.S. side? What would the U.S. expect to see in terms of a commitment to a bilateral relationship in terms of our attitude toward Russia?

Ms. Lisa Curtis responded by highlighting tangible examples of progress in the U.S.-India defense relationship, such as the signing of a memorandum of understanding between GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the manufacture of GE F414 jet engines in India. She emphasized the significance of the India-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (ISET) in addressing complex issues of technology sharing, facilitated by the involvement of senior leaders such as National Security Advisors. Regarding India's relationship with Russia, Ms. Curtis acknowledged that India cannot immediately sever ties but emphasized the expectation for India to gradually decrease its reliance on Russian military equipment. She stressed the importance of India continuing to move in the direction of reducing dependence on Russia and increasing cooperation with countries like the U.S., Israel and France for its military needs. She stressed on the necessity of safeguarding technology and cyber security to facilitate the overall technology-sharing relationship between India and the U.S.

• Is the undersea surveillance technology that the United States is utilizing ready to be shared with India? Considering the demand for national security purposes and the challenges faced by Port Security officers in understanding and developing undersea surveillance, is there a willingness from the United States to collaborate with India in this area?

Dr. Bryan Clark expressed that there are opportunities for military cooperation, particularly in combined operations with India against common adversaries like China. However, he highlighted that the U.S. is reevaluating the extent to which such cooperation is feasible, considering factors like homeland defense priorities and shared adversary concerns. He emphasized that the focus of cooperation would likely be on defense and maritime domain awareness missions, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, to enhance India's ability to manage its maritime interests and security. As for undersea surveillance technology sharing, Dr. Clark noted that while there may be limitations, opportunities for sharing technologies like towed array and sonar systems exist, especially considering the lack of extensive U.S. undersea surveillance in the Indian Ocean. He highlighted the potential for cooperation in undersea maritime domain awareness, particularly through unmanned platforms, which could circumvent some technology transfer limitations associated with manned platforms like submarines.

Suggestions/ Recommendation:

• Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Prakash Menon suggested that the importance of factoring in the psychological dimension while planning such activities to enhance deterrence effectively with India, it's crucial to consider their psychological impact on China. He emphasized that actions like joint amphibious landings may affect China's perception and behavior, potentially strengthening deterrence. 

• Dr. Sameer Lalwani recommended considering the consequences of India's strategic autonomy and bilateral relationships, particularly concerning its ties with Russia. He highlighted that while it's not about constraining India's choices, there could be implications, such as Congress making decisions about technology release and export controls based on trust assessments. He noted that these assessments may be influenced by concerns about potential leakage of technology to China, given the increasing cooperation between Russia and China in military technology.