TOPIC: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
3) Discuss the implications of COMCASA agreement on India and the wider region?(250 words)
Why this question
The article highlights the benefits and issues that would arise out of signing COMCASA. The India USA 2+2 strategic dialogue hogged the limelight and the agreement has been under discussion for long. Preparing this agreement is important for mains.
Key demand of the question
The question expects us to provide answers to the following points
- Details of COMCASA agreement
- What it holds for India USA strategic relations
- Implications of the agreement on India’s relations with other nations and wider region.
- Way forward
Directive word
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Highlight the recent turn of events which culminated in the signing of COMCASA.
Body
- Explain COMCASA – The 10-year COMCASA facilitates transfer of high-tech US communications platforms and specialised equipments like armed surveillance drones, and encrypted communications for US origin military platforms like the C-17, C-130 and P-8Is to India. It enables greater communications interoperability between both militaries and puts in place a framework for closer cooperation between their militaries and defence establishments.
- Explain the benefits arising for India – reflects the strategic partnership with USA, the sorting out of the worry that the agreement would open up its communications network to the US military” but its in built provisions safeguards India’s security interests by preventing the disclosure of data acquired through these systems to a third party without India’s consent etc
- Discuss the wider strategic impact of the agreement on India USA relation and other strategic relations in India’s neighbourhood along with Russia etc
Conclusion – Give your view on COMCASA and the way forward for India.
