[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2323-H2324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A NEW ERA OF DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA IS 
                             ON THE HORIZON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I believe that a new era of a defense 
partnership between the United States and India is on the horizon. I 
come to the House floor this evening to discuss the potential for 
stronger defense ties between these two nations.
  This relationship between the United States and India makes sense, 
and it is time that the world's two greatest democracies come together 
as natural allies. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I would like to see India 
and the U.S. form a stable defense alliance. Such an alliance would 
help secure our national security and those of our allies while 
isolating nations such as China, which pose a threat to India and other 
Asian democracies.
  Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who called on New 
Delhi in a visit last weekend, said that he was very pleased with the 
warm support and cooperation extended by the Indian government on 
various matters, including defense and military cooperation. Bridging a 
new defense relationship with India would be remarkable, given the 
history of this nation's ties with the United States in the past.
  During the Cold War, India unofficially joined hands with Russia in 
the non-alignment movement. This created tense relations between the 
United States and India, and ultimately the U.S. viewed India 
negatively. However, the Cold War is over. We have no reason to view 
India as a threat.
  In fact, India and the United States have many similar democratic 
interests, and as a result, both countries could work together and work 
together well against the threat from a military buildup in China or 
from rogue nations in Asia that threaten American interests.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans are still reeling from the incident last month 
when Chinese authorities detained a U.S. plane and military personnel. 
This incident and others exacerbate the difference between our 
democratic system and China's Communist regime. It highlights the need 
to have India, a stable democracy for over 50 years, as an ally in the 
region.
  It was well documented that the Chinese have transferred missile 
technologies to rogue nations. The Chinese premier has reaffirmed this 
during a recent visit to Pakistan, during which he disclosed his 
commitment to helping Pakistan develop its military.
  Threats to U.S. security loom large in Asia. Pakistan is politically 
unstable, is full of terrorism, as is documented in the U.S. annual 
terrorism

[[Page H2324]]

report, and is moving further away from a return to civilian 
government.
  The central Asia region is brewing with the extensive Osama bin Laden 
networks, which hold another comprehensive threat to U.S. security and 
regional interests. We do not need to look back too far, just to last 
year, to remember the tragic incident of the USS Cole.
  U.S.-India defense relationships have increased under the Bush 
administration. This was clearly evidenced in external affairs minister 
Jaswant Singh's visit to Washington last month when President Bush, 
Secretary Powell, Secretary Rumsfeld, and national security adviser 
Condoleeza Rice made commitments to build on our relationship and to 
increase cooperation on defense and military matters bilaterally.
  This is evidenced in the prompt scheduling of the U.S. Joint Chiefs 
chairman General Henry H. Sheldon's visit to India later this month to 
discuss high-level military issues between the two nations.
  If a U.S.-India defense relationship can be nurtured, I believe it 
will improve bilateral, commercial, and trade ties and expand our 
existing investment commitments.
  In order for us to do this in a substantial way, we must first remove 
all remaining sanctions on India. Many American and Indian scholars, as 
well as officials from the Department of State, have now acknowledged 
that the sanctions have done more harm to American companies doing 
business in India than to India itself, and removal of the sanctions 
will allow us to engage in a more comprehensive relationship with 
India.
  Mr. Speaker, collaboration between the United States and India is 
moving both countries in a positive direction. As two great 
democracies, the United States and India are natural allies, and a 
strong defense relationship is the next logical step in our foreign 
policy.

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