CSS 2017 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | US-India LEMOA to Check China’s Influence
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2017 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Understanding 2016’s US-India Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
3-LEMOA significance for India
- ✓ Blooming military capabilities
- ✓ Enhancing trade and shipping
- ✓ Increasing strategic partners
4: Regional impacts of LEMOA
- ✓ Strategic instability and geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean region
- ✓ India’s regional hegemony
- ✓ New security challenges for regional countries
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
The Strategic relations between India and the United States (US) have reached new heights since the end of the Cold War. Strategically, the two countries have the shared goal of containing China’s regional influence, building new partnerships and emergence of India as a critical strategic and regional hegemon. In doing so, the US has stated that India is a critical strategic and trade partner with the shift in policy from a Pacific-centered to an Indo-Pacific one. Thus, several foundational agreements were signed between the two countries, including 2016’s India Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement. The agreement drives access to military facilities of each other, joint exercises and logistical support. The agreement has been a game changer in amplifying India’s military capabilities and challenging Chinese power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). However, the agreement has several implications for the region regarding geopolitical competition in the IOR, derailing strategic deterrence and security concerns. Thus, the agreement is essential in enhancing geostrategic partnerships in the IOR.
Understanding 2016’s US-India Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
The United States (US) and India signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 under the shadow of enhancing bilateral strategic relations. The agreement is of prime importance among the foundational bilateral agreements between the US and India. Covering the four significant areas- port calls, naval exercises, training, and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR)- the agreement has an essential advantage for both countries in exerting their regional influence. Accordingly, the agreement entails access to each other’s military bases for logistical purposes, enhancing the strategic coordination of both countries.
LEMOA significance for India
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement has multifarious strategic advantages for India. The agreement provides India with a stronghold in the Indian Ocean region, allowing it to exert its regional hegemony and contain China’s influence.
- Blooming military capabilities
The bilateral agreement for logistics purposes has the pivotal advantage of enriching India’s military capabilities, specifically its naval sector. The US’s unprecedented access to military facilities, all in a strategic location, augments India’s security potential. Similarly, access to US bases potentializes India’s curtailment of the Chinese strategy of “Strings of Pearls” in the Indian Ocean Region. Besides, the agreement includes joint naval exercises and training, which will boost the Indian naval capabilities against Chinese maritime power.
- Enhancing trade and shipping
Besides military advantages, the bilateral agreement is of prime importance for India’s socioeconomic purpose. The joint military cooperation between the US and India for counter-terrorism and anti-piracy will galvanize the shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), fostering economic and social development. Moreover, surging military cooperation and enhancing Indian naval potential will build more trade partners for India in the IOR.
- Increasing strategic partners
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, a cornerstone of US-India strategic relations, has paved the way for India to establish strategic partnerships with like-minded countries. After the US, India successively signed the LEMOA agreements with France, Japan, and Australia, the major stakeholders in the US Indo-Pacific policy. Thus, the bilateral agreement has catalyzed the emergence of India as a pivotal force in the Indian Ocean Region.
Regional impacts of LEMOA
Besides various advantages for India’s national interests, the increasing convergence between the US and Indian military in the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) context has numerous regional impacts.
- Strategic instability and geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean region (IOR)
The signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) has shaken the regional strategic stability. To illustrate, the growing military capabilities of India as a result of cooperation with the United States (US) military has been alarming for neighbouring countries. Importantly, providing access to the US to Indian military facilities has posed a threat to the security of Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In addition, increasing convergence among the US, India, and other like-minded countries like Japan and Australia has fostered geopolitical competition, which has consequences for regional peace and stability.
- India’s regional hegemony
The advancement in US-India strategic relations in the context of military agreements like the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement has amplified India’s tendencies as a regional and strategic power. Resultantly, India’s growing military potential, accompanied by regional hegemonic tendencies and the support of the US, will make Pakistan vulnerable to Indian aggression. Similarly, other smaller countries will also have to feel the brunt of India’s regional hegemony.
- New security challenges for regional countries
The military-to-military convergence in US-India strategic relations has brought a new wave of security challenges to regional countries. For instance, India’s enhanced military capabilities derail the equilibrium of regional strategic deterrence. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMAO) was signed during unrest in Kashmir. This reveals that the United States is unconcerned about the contention between Pakistan and India. In addition, India has recently procured 11000 Extreme Weather Clothing Systems EWCS from the United States to provide for soldiers in the Laddakh region against China.
Conclusion
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMAO), signed between the United States (US) and India, has changed the geopolitical fabric of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Indeed, with the arrival of the United States on the shores of China and the building of strategic partnerships, the region has become a theatre for power politics. However, besides the national interests of global power, the regional countries have to face certain challenges like strategic instability, security, and compromised autonomy.
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