Defense spending

Sir,
With India emerging as a “major global power”, its defence needs have also multiplied. It has been spending a huge portion of its budgetary allocation on defence, but in recent years, after 2001, the Indian defence industry has grown up substantially. The government capital spending has quadrupled from $ 3 billion in 2000 to $12.2 billion in 2010. India is the sixth biggest spender on defence from 2000 to 2010.
No doubt it is in the strategic interest of India, aspiring to be the global power to develop indigenous and internationally competitive defence industry base. But at the same time it has to ensure that its resources are properly used and not siphoned off.
The time is ripe for robust defense spending not only because the economy is now strong, but it also faces strategic threats from Pakistan and from China. The US proposals, to sign the so called Basic Defence Cooperation Agreements BECA and CISMOA could drag India unnecessary confrontations with China and potentially push cooperation with Russia in a blind alley.
In the existing scenario India cannot afford to jeopardize its long term goals of its International policy for getting the US’ support in countering raising Chinese power. The agreements which US intends to ink with India would imperil high technology cooperation with Russia and leave the Indian Army without new defence platforms.
Yours etc….
Arun Srivastava
on e-mail

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