Given the threats Nato is focussed on and the values of democracy and respect for human rights and a transparent free press, should Nato not have a closer alliance with India?
When the then Prime Minister appointed me the UK India Roundtable in 1999 to examine ways of developing closer UK India ties, this was one of my key recommendations to Number 10 back then.
UK-India military exercises already exist but given the China threat to both countries and to Nato a more formal India Nato alliance makes sense.
The answer to the question seems to be yes.
For example, Nato and India already have a commonality of purpose against terrorism, with both having suffered huge terrorist attacks in recent years on their civilians and from the Afghan and Pakistan based terrorist groups that target both countries.
There is also much trade between India and Nato countries, particularly with Germany, France and Britain.
UK diplomatic missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan were working closely with Indian intelligence agencies to tackle the threat from Lashkar-e-Taiba.
There is also an element of deal making here. With Pakistan making clear they will be distancing themselves from the US unless paid handsomely, which the Americans have wised up to not doing anymore, then India becomes a more important ally.
China is a threat to India and NATO and a closer link between India and Nato therefore makes sense. And the UK is predisposed to support India anyway as a close partner and ally.
India is not part of the "Five Eyes" alliance that includes Australia and New Zealand that was formed by sharing intelligence on issues including counterterrorism and arms sales and so a Nato connection would make up for that failing.
India's Defence Planning Committee (DPC) is currently chaired by the National Security Advisor (NSA) and has cabinet ministers from the Ministries of Defence, Finance, External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs. The DPC coordinates India's military planning with the US, and other Asian nations as well as Russia.
Again India is part of the ‘Quad with Japan, Australia and US’ and a India Nato alliance would seem a natural next step.
For example, in January 2017, India and Japan carried out joint air force exercises for the first time. These exercises were conducted at the Kalaikunda air force station, which is in West Bengal. This included an air-to-air refueling exercise with the Indian Air Force's IL-78 aircraft and C-130J Hercules aircraft. The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) uses its own KC-767A tankers and one of its own C-130Js to refuel the Indian Air Force planes during exercises.
Air-to-air refueling is a specialised skill and, with world oil reserves dwindling, it is likely to become more valuable in the future. India has been using air-to-air refueling to project its air force presence further beyond its borders at shorter notice. Tanker aircraft, such as the IL-78 and KC-767A in this case, are specially modified military transport or strategic bombers that can transfer fuel from their fuel tanks to the fuel tanks of other aircraft.
In April 2017, India and Russia held joint military exercises near Siachen glacier in Ladakh on the borders with Pakistan. This concerned Pakistan which then launched its own large scale military drills. It remains to be seen whether India and Japan will hold joint military exercises in the region again in the future.
The exercise coincided with the Indian Air Force's (IAF) first use of its Boeing-made C-17 Globemaster III transport plane that can carry out operations in most environments, including landing on short, austere airstrips in high-altitude areas. The C-17 is also capable of carrying out heavy-lift airlifting missions in all weather conditions, and is now used by the United States Air Force for transporting personnel, cargo and fuel.
Clearly, a Nato alliance allows it’s member nations especially France, UK, US to sell more defence capability hardware to India too.
Russia's Air Force agreed to help develop India's strategic nuclear strike capability with a contract worth $1.5 billion that will see Russia’s state-owned military aerospace company, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), upgrade Indian supersonic cruise missiles from 300 miles to 2,000 miles (4800 km). Nato sees Russia as a threat and India’s close historic ties with Russia show how that leads to commercial benefits.
Of course, India may well have to get over Pakistan being a Nato partner country (not full member) as Nato will have to get over India Russian relations.
