US Woos India To Join ‘NATO Harms New Delhi’s Strategic Autonomy

According to experts, the US is emphasizing the problem further in order to create a favorable public perception for its own “Indo-Pacific” security structure. Although India’s official stance on NATO Plus membership is unknown, analysts warned that if India makes the foolish decision of leaning toward NATO, it will seriously affect New Delhi’s strategic autonomy, international standing, and ties with surrounding nations.

When questioned about a report stating that a US committee has recommended India be included in the US-led NATO framework, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti remarked that “anything is on the table” in an interview with Indian media source WION on Tuesday.

India is one of Washington’s closest allies, thus it is up to New Delhi to determine whether it wants to join NATO plus, according to Garcetti. In order to strengthen defense and intelligence relations, NATO Plus, or NATOPlus 5, a security arrangement, brings together NATO and five associated nations: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea.

On May 27, a USHouse committee approved a plan to “deter China’s aggression” on the Taiwan issue by including India in NATO Plus.

According to Qian Feng, director of the research division at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, the US wants to replicate the model of confronting Russia through the NATO framework to counter China in the Asia-Pacific region, and it views India as a key link that will determine the success of its “Indo-Pacific strategy” in this regard.

In order to strengthen its influence and, to some extent, its strategic leverage with China, India also wants to take use of the US and NATO framework, Qian said.
Prior to Modi’s state visit to Washington, DC, on June 22, at US President Joe Biden’s invitation, the US made efforts to court India.

During his sixth “Indo-Pacific” tour, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on June 5. There, he is anticipated to “further deepen the US-India MajorDefense Partnership,” according to a statement from the US Department of Defense.
Even though relations between China and India are at a low point because of a border stalemate, it is not impossible that India will work more closely with NATO in the future. For the time being, however, India is apprehensive of being forced into a direct conflict with China by the US.

Additionally, the expert stated that India will consider its long-term cooperation with Russia and maintain some distance from the US in the event that US-Russian relations deteriorate and the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the US is actually trying to create a favorable public opinion and political environment, laying the groundwork for the potential establishment of a closer relationship between India and the NATO mechanism in the future, in order to potentially further increase US influence in the Asia-Pacific region, by hyping India’s accession to NATO Plus, which is unlikely to occur in the near future.

However, Li emphasized that New Delhi must be aware of the fact that India’s rising global standing is a result of its continued strategic independence and refusal to choose sides. “Keeping a moderate balance among the great powers is in India’s best national interest.”

India has long yearned for leadership in the developing world. According to Qian, if New Delhi decides to align itself with the NATO mechanism, which defends the security interests of the US and its allies, it will have a significant impact on its aspirations for global leadership, as well as its status as a major power and its room for diplomatic maneuvering.

India’s standing in regional organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as its relations with China and Russia, will face significant challenges if it takes sides, Li warned.

Before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, the US has intensified its efforts to court India. Its envoy to India recently praised New Delhi as “one of Washington’s closest allies” and said India should decide whether to join the US-led NATO Plus while emphasizing the need for increased defense cooperation.