The U.S. Navy has publicly declared it conducted “freedom of navigation operations” or
FNOP in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Lakshadweep on 7th April, without
deliberately seeking New Delhi’s prior consent.
The ship in question was USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
A statement from US Navy' 7th Fleet, said, “India requires prior consent for military
exercises or maneuvers in its EEZ or continental shelf, a claim inconsistent with international
law.
This FONOP upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international
law by challenging India’s excessive maritime claims,”
Indian on its part has stated that the American warship was "continuously monitored" and concerns
were conveyed to the Biden administration.
The incident had raised more than a few eyebrows
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why the U.S. Navy's public assertion of Freedom
of Navigation exercise in Indian EEZ was uncalled for?
Let's get started.
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India requires prior notice from foreign warships to enter its territorial sea, which extends
its sovereignty 12 nautical miles or around 22.2 km from the baseline.
It also requires prior permission for military exercises and operations in its EEZ or Exclusive
Economic Zone, which extends it exclusive rights to economic resources for 200 nautical
miles or around 370 km as per international maritime norms.
U.S warships have been conducting “operational assertion”, as these sail-throughs are called,
to express America’s refusal to recognize certain maritime claims by India.
According to U.S Department of Defence reports, such operations have been carried out at least
since 1985, under the 'Freedom of Navigation' program.
Viewers may note that the 7th Fleet is the largest in US Navy with an area of responsibility
in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
There are 3 reasons due to which the specific incident has left a bad taste on the Indian
side.
Let check them one by one.
U.S and India are democracies and have similar values.
In recent times the relationship between the two countries has got stronger and stronger.
The view from the Indian side is that USS John Paul Jones could have easily contacted
the Indian authorities and permission would have been granted.
In case the U.S. didn't want to send a prior notice as it defeats the purpose it could
have at least refrained from issuing a public statement.
An Indian official was quoted as saying, “Yes, EEZs are international waters where
foreign shipping cannot be impeded.
The US Navy does undertake FONOPs in EEZs of different countries, including India, but
to make such a confrontational and provocative statement about India is very unusual,”
It is to be noted here that while U.S Navy makes a public announcement of operation in
the South China Sea, the scenario is different since China is posing a threat and trying
to bully the smaller countries in the region.
The timing couldn't have been worst as this is the 50th year of the creation of Bangladesh.
To give viewers the context, let us go back in history.
In 1971, India & Pakistan engaged in a military confrontation in which East Pakistan was liberated
and ultimately Bangladesh came into existence.
The war saw around 93,000 Pakistani servicemen being taken prisoner by the Indian Army.
But during the war, U.S tried to intervene on Pakistan's side.
The U.S. sympathized with Pakistan, because of several reasons.
Among them two were major.
1.
Pakistan belonged to the American led military Pact, CENTO and SEATO.
2.
The U.S believed any victory of India will be considered as the expansion of Soviet influence,
as India was believed to be a pro-Soviet, even though it was non-aligned.
The U.S sent the 7th Fleet’s Task Force 74 to pressure India.
Led by the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise, the Task
Force consisted of amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli with a Marine battalion and assault
helicopters; the three guided-missile warships USS King, USS Decatur and USS Parsons; four
gun destroyers USS Bausell, USS Orleck, USS McKean and USS Anderson; one ammo ship USS
Haleakala.
India quietly sent Moscow a request to activate a secret provision of the Indo-Soviet security
treaty, under which Russia was bound to defend India in case of any external aggression.
Russia dispatched a nuclear-armed flotilla from Vladivostok on December 13 under the
overall command of Admiral Vladimir Kruglyakov.
The Soviet flotilla blocked the American Task Group and U.S couldn't get its way.
Though the relation between U.S & India has moved on, the event that unfolded is imprinted
in the collective Indian psyche.
Currently, India and China are engaged in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh.
At this time the U.S. needs to stand with India firmly and any differences will be very
detrimental when it comes to handling the larger cause of standing up to China.
China is taking this opportunity and the Communist regime's unofficial mouthpiece Global Times
is already at it.
It published an article about this, stating, "This has angered nationalistic sentiment
toward US imperialism among the Indian public and some criticized the Indian government's
weakness in the face of a superpower, and others questioned the necessity of India to
take part in the US-led Quad grouping.
The US Navy's intrusion into India's EEZ, as the Indian media called, will strengthen
India's strategic doubt toward the US and make it believe that its firm refusal to let
Quad evolve into a NATO-like military alliance in Asia is a wise choice."
China is trying to drive a wedge by attempting to influence the Indian public opinion and
this event has given it an opening.
At a time when the U.S. & India are trying to build closer cooperation through the Quad
or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and other ways to build a “credible deterrence”
against China in the Indo-Pacific, the episode is a step backward.