Russia could upset India’s US-China balancing act

New Delhi’s increased defence engagement with Washington risks upsetting Moscow, its longtime arms supplier

Relations with Beijing, meanwhile, face a ‘complete re-set’ amid rising tensions, according to a former diplomat

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US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, left, meets with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on March 20. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 5:00pm, 28 Mar 2021Updated: 5:00pm, 28 Mar 2021

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to New Delhi last week was the latest symbol of Washington’s desire for the two sides to close ranks against China’s increasing assertiveness, observers say.

Yet in drawing closer to the United States, India could risk alienating its long-time defence ally and largest arms supplier Russia, with whom Delhi enjoys a “special and privileged strategic partnership”.

Since 2016, the US has designated India a “major defence partner”, with the two going on to sign three wide-ranging agreements that allow for greater defence interoperability, as well as Delhi’s procurement of high-end American weapons technology.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, right, speaks with the leaders of India, the US and Japan at the first Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, summit in early March. Photo: EPA

The US and India also form half of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, a grouping that includes Australia and Japan, and is widely seen as a counter to China. Austin’s visit to Delhi took place within a week of the Quad’s first summit meeting, which was held virtually in early March because of the pandemic.

During his visit, the US defence chief spoke of working together with “like-minded” nations to ensure a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific” – a key part of the Quad’s stated aims – and described “our commitment to a comprehensive forward-looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar of our approach” to the region.

Pradeep Kaushiva, a retired vice-admiral of the Indian navy, said Washington’s decision to send Austin as the Biden administration’s “introductory” cabinet-level contact was also important symbolically, as “this indicates the restoration of the primacy and heft of defence cooperation in the [bilateral] relationship.”

Kanwal Sibal, a former foreign secretary of India, echoed this point, saying the visit symbolised Joe Biden’s “personal commitment” to the US-India relationship and showed that “defence has become a solid pillar of our bilateral ties”.

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