The Left parties have decided to conduct two jathas (marches) from Kolkata and Chennai to Vishakapatnam on the eastern coast from September 4 to 8, 2007. On these dates, for the first time, the Indian navy is conducting joint exercises in the Bay of Bengal with the US navy and with naval ships from Australia, Japan and Singapore. Simultaneously there will be a nationwide mass campaign from September 4 to 8 against the nuclear deal.(and) military collaboration with America. The genesis of the current steps for strengthening military cooperation began in 2005 when the UPA government signed a Defence Framework Agreement with the US government in June 2005. Unlike the Indian government, which is coy about owning up its new military relationship with the US, we should see how the Americans view it. Nicholas Burns, the American Under Secretary of State, who was responsible for negotiating the bilateral (nuclear) agreement.(said during) the official briefing after the 123 agreement was reached, “And I think now that we have consummated the civil nuclear trade between us, if we look down the road in the future, we’re going to see far greater defence cooperation between the United State and India: training; exercises; we hope, defence sales of American military technology to the Indian armed forces.” Under the Defence Framework Agreement, India has agreed to sign the Logistics Support Agreement with the United States. This is nothing but the “Access and Cross-Servicing Agreement” which the US has with many other countries. Under this agreement, US ships and planes can use the facilities of Indian ports and airbases for refuelling, maintenance, servicing, communications etc. By such an arrangement, Indian ports and airports can be used by US warships and planes when they are deployed for offensive operations such as the attack on Iraq in 2003. This agreement is now before the Cabinet Committee of Security for approval. India is getting meshed into the security cooperation sponsored by the US. Earlier this month, the Australian Army Chief stated that a secret meeting of the Army Chiefs from 19 countries was held in Sydney. The conference was billed as the “Pacific Countries Army Chiefs’ Conference” and it was jointly organised by the US and Australia. India’s vice chief of Army attended the meeting. So did the US Army Chief of Staff. The US Navy Pacific Commander Timothy Keating has visited Delhi ahead of the joint naval exercises. In fact, the visits of the US Pacific Commander have become a regular feature. The nuclear deal, the military agreement and the economic policies designed to advance the interests of US capital are parts of the trio which are harmful for India’s sovereignty, independent foreign policy and the people’s economic interests. The UPA government is mistaken, if it thinks that it can go ahead with such military collaboration without evoking strong opposition from the patriotic people of India. The Left parties have been the most consistent defenders of India’s sovereignty and the pursuit of an independent foreign policy. These are edited extracts from Prakash Karat’s article, Stop Military Collaboration with America, from the September 2, 2007 issue of the ‘People’s Democracy’ Setting the agenda: Sonia Gandhi
