US arms to India extend NATO ties

The Government unveiled India’s new defence procurement policy on the same day that the nuclear deal with the United States sailed through the International Atomic Energy Agency. The policy throws wide open the field for “private players” from abroad. . . .

The deal provides the political-strategic ambience for the US President to selectively effect waivers on the embargo of transfer of military technology to India. Large scale US participation in the great Indian arms bazaar — reputed to be gearing up for business worth $40 billion — now becomes possible. . . .

Commercial considerations apart, it ensures “interoperability” between the US and Indian armed forces and, in turn, facilitates Indian participation in the operations under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation [NATO].