After China, the US has now got India worried. The US and the Maldives are set to sign an agreement called Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will allow the US to use air bases and ports of the island country. The Defence Ministry is concerned over the US move as it will directly challenge India strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.
The proposed pact to allow the US to gain a foothold in this region comes against the backdrop of China establishing diplomatic ties with Maldives in an effort to have a presence in the Indian Ocean region.
At present, the US has a military base in Diego Garcia, which is far south in the Indian Ocean. Washington wants to have its presence in the middle of the Indian Ocean region in Maldives to support its
operations and counter growing influence of China in
Asian region.
India has reasons to be alarmed with the development. New Delhi has all along seen itself as “net security provider” to all the littoral nations in the Indian Ocean region, and the presence of the US and Chinese around 500 nautical miles from Kerala in the Maldives will have direct impact on India’s strategic interests.
Given these facts, the Defence Ministry is reviewing its current strategy of forging closer relations with all the countries located on the rim of the Indian Ocean region, sources said here on Monday.
India provides aircraft and warships to several countries, including the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles as goodwill gesture and enhance their military capabilities. In addition, Indian ships and aircraft patrol the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of these countries to check piracy and illegal maritime trade.
Moreover, India took the lead seven years back when it formed Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) to bring together all the countries in this region under one umbrella to address issues like piracy, terrorism and securing lanes.
Against this backdrop, the US-Maldives proposed pact has forced the Government to review its policy as it feels that the present strategy is not bearing the desired result of playing a major role in the Indian Ocean region, sources said.
Elaborating upon the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the Maldives in particular, they said more than 70 per cent of sea trade between India and other countries is conducted through sea lanes which pass close to the island country.
Moreover, 80 per cent of world’s oil is shipped through these lanes and in case of contingency, forces inimical to India can choke these lanes.
The proposed 10-year SOFA gives the US access to Maldives bases for refueling its aircraft and ships without prior permission and allows the presence of US armed forces personnel in the territorial waters of Maldives. The agreement will also give the US forces
status of diplomats thereby giving them exemption from the local laws.
Incidentally, the US has similar agreement with more than 70 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in South Asia region. India has consistently refused to sign a logistical supplies agreement with the US which allows US aircraft and ships to enter Indian space and refuel.
In fact, the US had tried to have an agreement of this kind with India soon after its operations against Al-Qaeda began in Afghanistan after 9/11 but strong opposition at home saw India not agreeing to it.
As regards securing its interests in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Navy has over the years increased its strategic reach by inducting faster moving warships besides long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
However, the present capabilities of the Indian Navy to safeguard national interest will also shortly be reviewed, sources said adding the country’s foreign policy to strengthen ties with countries in the Indian Ocean region will also be analysed.