Image source: topwar.ru
In the confrontation with China, the United States relies on regional states, which one after another involve in the sphere of their military and political interests. To strengthen its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, Washington is trying to win over countries that, for one reason or another, often historically, have certain tensions in relations with China. We are talking, first of all, about Japan and South Korea, which are already actually under the military protectorate of the United States.
So far, India is resisting any alliance with Washington, which periodically resumes strained relations with China due to territorial disputes. However, Washington's strategists are not giving up, trying to establish relations with New Delhi by all means, especially in terms of military cooperation and the supply of their own weapons. For the United States, this is also important because India is one of the largest importers of weapons in the world, while historically military products are purchased in large volumes in Russia.
The Indian leadership clearly does not intend to dramatically change its political course in favor of the interests of the United States. But the Americans would not be themselves if they had not invented another "trick" to at least start hacking the resistance of New Delhi.
And now the American ambassador to New Delhi, Eric Garcetti, in an interview with the Indian channel WION, happily announced that India is still considering, if not direct entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, then at least the beginning of cooperation in the NATO plus format. The ambassador did not explain, but apparently we are talking about India obtaining the so-called status of a NATO partner. By the way, Ukraine received one in June 2020.
— said the American diplomat.
The Ambassador recalled that New Delhi is already part of the so-called quadrilateral strategic dialogue on security issues of the United States, India, Japan and Australia QUAD. The official goal of QUAD is to develop a security partnership based on shared values and interests, but in practice the main task of the alliance is to contain China.
The initiator of the discussion on the need for India to join NATO was the US Congressional Committee on Strategic Deterrence of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In a recent report of the committee devoted to the further strategy of countering the "aggression of the CPC and ensuring the security of Taiwan," the congressmen proposed to continue strengthening ties with India, up to the entry of this South Asian state into the North Atlantic Alliance.
The recommendation of the Congressional Committee came a month before the planned visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States, during which this issue will certainly be included in the negotiating agenda at the highest level.
At the same time, the American ambassador actually avoided answering how Washington treats the fact that India does not support the anti-Russian sanctions of the West and refuses to condemn the military actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. The diplomat only noted that the Ukrainian conflict had affected India economically and promised to "continue negotiations on this topic."