US Senator Marco Rubio introduces landmark Bill to elevate US-India ties and counter China threats, targets aid to Pakistan

US Senator Marco Rubio has introduced a bill in the Congress that proposes to treat India on par with its allies like as Japan, Israel, Korea and NATO allies. The Bill aims to leverage India’s position regarding technology transfers, support the country in its response to growing threats to its territorial integrity and bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if it is found to have sponsored terrorism against India. 

“Communist China continues to aggressively expand its domain in the Indo-Pacific region, all while it seeks to impede the sovereignty and autonomy of our regional partners. It’s crucial for the US to continue its support in countering these malicious tactics. India, along with other nations in the region, is not alone,” Rubio said after introducing the US-India Defense Cooperation Act in the Senate on July 25. 

However, given the short timeline of a divided Congress in an election year, the Bill is unlikely to make much headway. It notes that the US-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi, it asserts. 

Among other things, the Bill would set a Statement of Policy that the US will support India in its response to growing threats to its territorial integrity, provide necessary security assistance to India to deter adversaries, and cooperate with India with respect to defense, civil space, technology, medicine and economic investments. 

If passed, it would provide a limited exemption for India from CAATSA sanctions for purchases of Russian equipment that are currently used by the Indian military and set a sense of Congress that expeditious consideration of certifications of letters of offer to sell defense articles, defense services, design and construction services, and major defense equipment to India is consistent with US interests and it is in the interest of peace and stability India to have the capabilities needed to deter threats. 

It proposes to treat India as the US allies like Japan, Israel, Korea and NATO allies regarding technology transfers, increase military cooperation; expedite excess defense articles to India for two years, and expand International Military Education and Training Cooperation with New Delhi. 

It requires a report to Congress on Pakistan’s use of offensive force, including through terrorism and proxy groups, against India; and bar Pakistan from receiving security assistance if it is found to have sponsored terrorism against India. 

It is for the first time such an India-centric bill has been introduced in the US Congress that proposes to put India at the same level of that of its treaty allies, exempt it from CAATSA sanctions, and imposes sanctions on Pakistan for promoting terrorism in India.