Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 4

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will host his US counterpart Ashton Carter for three days beginning April 10. It will include a visit to Goa, the home state of Parrikar.Meanwhile, the Defence Policy Group of the two countries shall be meeting in the run-up to the talks.Carter commences his visit from Goa and a US Navy’s warship, the USS Blueridge, shall be visiting the state – an important Indian Navy base. It’s the home base of the MiG-29-K fighter jets which are docked on board the sea-borne aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya.The US-India ties are to move to the next stage with both countries discussing the joint design and technology of a 65,000-tonne sea-borne aircraft carrier. US companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin have submitted proposals for ‘make in India’ fighter jets. New Delhi is looking for additional fighter jets once it signs the Rafale fighter jet deal.On March 4, Parrikar had categorically turned down a US proposal to jointly patrol the contested waters of South China Sea. “Our viewpoint will come, if at all we consider it. As of now, India has never taken part in any joint patrol, the question of joint patrol does not arise,” he had said.The US is also keen that the much-talked-about Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) can progress unhindered once India signs the ‘foundational agreements’.The logistics support agreement (LSA), to share military logistics, is in advanced stages of talks. India has some issues on this which were flagged during Parrikar’s visit to the US in December last year.India fears the LSA could turn out to be a binding commitment to support the United States in a war. It allows the two militaries to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repair and rest.Defence Minister to visit ChinaIndia will diplomatically balance its separate military-level ties with the US with China. Manohar Parrikar will lead a delegation to China from April 18 to 20 to hold talks with the military leadership. India and China are looking to implement on ground the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on ensuring peace and tranquility along the 3,448-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).