Click to play videoNew Delhi: No going back on military ties with the US, and if it sends the Left into convulsions, it's just too bad - that was the message from the UPA Government on Thursday.
“We have military interaction with the US and that will continue,” said Defence Minister A K Antony.
The Government justified the stepped-up defence ties in terms of national interest and plain common sense.
“We have tremendous value in terms of new technology and getting to operate with it,” said Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta.
The Government's resolve to continue military relations with the US is matched by another dominant sentiment – a distrust of China. This clash of worldviews with the Left is certain to stir a political debate on what is national interest.
Antony expressed concern to India's top military leadership over China's continuing military build-up.
“We have to consider what’s going on in Pakistan and China. Their armies are modernizing and we need to do that too,” said Antony.
The Chinese shadow is now looming not just over the Himalayan boundaries. Its increasing interest in the Indian Ocean Region may well be setting the stage for a new contest.
“China’s interest is to ensure the supplies of oil remain open,” said Mehta.
The UPA Government's strategic vision clearly seems to be running in the face of the Left worldview.
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