INDIA SHOULD REFUSE AMERICA'S 'NATO PLUS' BAIT
NATO is a transatlantic military alliance of 31 countries, with the majority of members from Europe.
INDIA SHOULD REFUSE AMERICA'S 'NATO PLUS' BAIT
NATO is a transatlantic military alliance of 31 countries, with the majority of members from Europe.
• In April 2023, Finland became the 31st to join and Sweden is waiting in the wings.
• it was established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) signed in 1949 to provide collective security against Soviet Union
• 'NATO Plus' refers to a security arrangement of NATO and the five treaty allies of the U.S. – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea as members
• to enhance "global defence cooperation" and win "strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party".
• The term 'NATO Plus' is not an officially recognized or established concept within NATO itself
• Now since NATO Plus focuses on containing China, it could benefit India providing it with a security umbrella. However, this needs to be understood in the larger context of India's strategic autonomy.
• First, India joining the NATO framework might sour its solidified relations with Russia. Second, being a U.S.-led alliance, it could limit India's freedom and prevent it from pursuing an independent policy towards China.
• Third, India has traditionally maintained a policy of strategic autonomy. Joining the system would require India to align its defence and security policies with the objectives of the alliance.
• India's priorities lie in addressing its own regional dynamics that includes a unique set of security challenges such as border disputes, terrorism and regional conflicts. For the time being, these would be better addressed through the Quad (India, Japan, Australia, and U.S).