NATO Plus: India made it clear on Thursday that it has no intention of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the completion of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the military alliance “is not suitable for India”. According to NATO, it is an intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states – 29 European and two North American. Its main objective is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
The comments critical of India come weeks after a powerful Congressional committee recommended strengthening NATO Plus by including India. NATO Plus, currently NATO Plus 5, is a security arrangement that brings together NATO and five alliance countries – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and South Korea – to promote global defense cooperation. Bringing India on board will facilitate seamless intelligence sharing between these countries and India will be able to access the latest military technology in no time.
However, rejecting the proposal, Jaishankar said, “NATO’s blueprint does not apply to India.” Significantly, this suggestion came from America before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America.
Why should India join NATO? according to US
According to the US, India should join the alliance to protect its borders from its neighbor China. Furthermore, by joining the US-led coalition, India will be able to strengthen global security and deter CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Winning strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party and ensuring Taiwan’s security demands the United States strengthen ties with our allies and security partners, including India. India’s inclusion in the NATO Plus security arrangement will enhance the US and India’s closer partnership to strengthen global security and deter CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific region,” the select committee recommended.
What does India believe?
In contrast, India said, it would not join the alliance as it is capable of countering any Chinese aggression– which is currently impossible as the two countries are separated by the Himalayan region.
Furthermore, China is currently grappling with a looming economic crisis. Earlier on Wednesday, China’s exports fell 7.5% from a year earlier in May and imports shrank 4.5%, adding to signs of an economic rebound after the end of anti-virus controls is slowing because of higher interest rates. Global demand is weakening under pressure. Exports plunged to $283.5 billion, reversing an unexpectedly strong 8.5% growth in April, customs data showed on Wednesday. Imports declined to $217.7 billion, down from a 7.9% contraction in the previous month. China’s global trade surplus decreased by 16.1% to $65.8 billion.
“The United States should strengthen the NATO Plus arrangement to include India. The United States should also strengthen diplomatic deterrence by supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and amending the TAIPEI Act so that the United States, along with its allies and partners, will continue to act deliberately by the CCP to resolve Taiwan’s sovereignty situation. Publicly oppose any attempt. misuse, misrepresent, and mislead others on the underlying purpose of UN Resolution 2758 or the One China Policy of the United States,” according to US Congressional committee recommendations.
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