Close X
Thursday, October 3, 2024
ADVT 
International

US' $618 Billion Defence Budget Boosts Ties With 'Major Defence Partner' India

IANS, 24 Dec, 2016 12:43 PM
    US President Barack Obama has signed into law the US $618 billion defence budget for 2017, which enhances security cooperation with India and conditions nearly half of the funding to Pakistan on a certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network and other terror groups.
     
    Currently vacationing in Hawaii, President Obama yesterday signed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017, which asks Defence Secretary and Secretary of State to take steps necessary to recognise India as America's "major defence partner".
     
    A summary of the bill released by Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Senator John McCain said NDAA-2017 "enhances security cooperation" between the US and India.
     
    It also asks the administration to designate an individual within the executive branch who has experience in defence acquisition and technology to reinforce and ensure, through inter-agency policy coordination, the success of the Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship; and to help resolve remaining issues impeding US-India defence trade, security cooperation, and co-production and co-development opportunities.
     
    The NDAA, which among other things creates a US $1.2 billion Counter-ISIS Fund, imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for US $400 million of the US $900 million of the coalition support fund (CSF).
     
    The US Defence Secretary needs to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Islamabad has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any of its territory as a safe haven.
     
     
    Early this year, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter refused to give a similar certification to Pakistan due to which it was not given US $300 million under coalition support fund.
     
    In his signing statement, Barack Obama did not mention to any of these provisions of the bill, but he did expressed disappointment over certain other provisions in NDAA-2017.
     
    He said: "I remain deeply concerned about the Congress's use of the National Defence Authorisation Act to impose extensive organisational changes on the Department of Defence, disregarding the advice of the Department's senior civilian and uniformed leaders."
     
     
    "The extensive changes in the bill are rushed, the consequences poorly understood, and they come at a particularly inappropriate time as we undertake a transition between administrations. These changes not only impose additional administrative burdens on the Department of Defence and make it less agile, but they also create additional bureaucracies and operational restrictions that generate inefficiencies at a time when we need to be more efficient."
     
     
    The bill, among other things, creates a US $1.2 billion Counter-ISIS Fund providing flexible resources to support training and equipping the properly-vetted Syrian opposition, Iraqi Security Forces, the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga, Sunni tribal elements, and other local security forces with a national security mission such as local security forces that are committed to protecting highly vulnerable ethnic and religious communities.
     
    Mr McCain said the bold reforms achieved in this year's legislation on defence acquisition, military healthcare, military justice, and security cooperation are a worthy contribution to this historic legacy of bipartisan support for troops.
     
    "(It) refocuses security assistance to Pakistan on activities that directly support US national security interests and conditions a significant portion of funding on a certification from the Secretary of Defence that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network in Pakistani territory," the summary said.
     
    President Obama also slammed the Congress for not taking action toward closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
     
    "As I have said before, spending hundreds of millions of dollars, year after year, to keep fewer than 60 men in an isolated detention facility in Cuba is not consistent with our interests as a Nation and undermines our standing in the world."
     
     
    "It weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent extremists," he said.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Sikh Americans To Organise Diversity Festival In Fairfield, California

    Sikh Americans To Organise Diversity Festival In Fairfield, California
    Surjit Patar, an Indian Punjabi-language writer and poet is scheduled to be the special guest at the event.

    Sikh Americans To Organise Diversity Festival In Fairfield, California

    Pulitzer Prize Winner Jhumpa Lahiri Gets National Humanities Medal From President Obama

    Pulitzer Prize Winner Jhumpa Lahiri Gets National Humanities Medal From President Obama
    President Barack Obama presented the 2014 National Medals of Arts and Humanities to Pulitzer Prize winning Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri and 20 other distinguished persons at a White House ceremony.

    Pulitzer Prize Winner Jhumpa Lahiri Gets National Humanities Medal From President Obama

    Indian-American Harish Jajoo Bids To Be US City's First South Asian Mayor

    Indian-American Harish Jajoo Bids To Be US City's First South Asian Mayor
    An Indian-American engineer is making a bid to become the first South Asian mayor of Sugar Land in the US state of Texas, a media report said.

    Indian-American Harish Jajoo Bids To Be US City's First South Asian Mayor

    Canada Joins Vote Against UN Resolution Approving Palestinian Flag Proposal

    Canada Joins Vote Against UN Resolution Approving Palestinian Flag Proposal
    The symbolic step pursued by the Palestinians in their quest for an independent state saw 119 nations vote "yes" and 45 abstain.

    Canada Joins Vote Against UN Resolution Approving Palestinian Flag Proposal

    Indian-American Couple Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Employment, Agreed To Forfeit $700,000 In Cash

    Indian-American Couple Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Employment, Agreed To Forfeit $700,000 In Cash
    Satishkumar Patel and his wife Daxaben Patel, who operated the Route 56 Express gas station and convenience store in McPherson city, Kansas, entered their guilty pleas on Thursday before a US district court judge

    Indian-American Couple Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Employment, Agreed To Forfeit $700,000 In Cash

    'Indian Travellers Will Soon Be In Top 10 List For US'

    'Indian Travellers Will Soon Be In Top 10 List For US'
    The Obama administration has set a goal of attracting 100 million annual international visitors to the US by 2021.

    'Indian Travellers Will Soon Be In Top 10 List For US'