An unprecedented move along the Indian coastal zones by the US Navy is susceptible. The Indian sovereignty lines got breached when the US Navy conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zones. The staggering prospect of the conduct was the officials’ acceptance of intentionally breaking the international laws. The United States Navy deliberately didn’t seek New Delhi’s consent, and it became a conflicting issue for both countries. It drew a response from reconciled officers who expressed their outrage at the state of affairs.
The concerns got conveyed to the Biden’s Administration as such a drastic viewpoint came out of the blue. Indian forces felt subdued and infuriated by the upheaving cosmic event as the force’s domestic maritime laws incongruent from the international laws. The strongly-worded nature of the United States Seventh Fleet was evident in its contradictory statements. It asserted that India’s requirement of prior consent is inconsistent with the international laws. The activities got conducted to reel out challenges to the Indian Naval Forces.
In a move that could potentially trigger a diplomatic row, the United States Navy’s actions could hurt the sentiments of Indian officials. The 7th Fleet is the largest of the US Navy‘s forward-deployed fleets. Although these discretionary actions are subject to influence the bilateral relations between the countries, this could be just one of the instances of disruptions. The inquest raised a few more eyebrows on America’s intention towards the uncharacteristic move.
The external affairs ministry on Friday expressed its utter disappointment on the issue and said, “India’s stated position on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is that the convention does not authorize other States to carry out in the EEZ and on the continental itself, military exercises or maneuvers.” However, India has different contentious maritime trade laws than the rest of the countries. Without the consent of the coastal state, the states could not involve missions that use weapons or explosives.
How have the US-India relations developed from the past?
The US-India partnership is founded on shared forefronts to freedom, democratic principles, equal treatment of all citizens, human rules, and the rule of law. The United States supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and vital partner in efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability. The strong relation between the countries was reflected in a four-million-strong Indian American diaspora. The partnership extends to trade ties as India is the second-largest importer of United States goods and services.
The bilateral trade has been intensified since the appointment of Joe Biden as the United States President. India imports a large proportion of energy resources from the United States, which further strengthens the good vibes between the countries. With China becoming the common enemy of India and the United States, the confrontation has always been to fight together against the discretion of manipulative activities.
However, The United States has welcomed more Indian students in their universities over the past few years. India and the United States Administrations share many bilateral dialogues of improving economic relations, freedom, maritime security, and other prolific matters. The significant breakthrough in the relationship has been the centrifugal aspect of crude oil.
In 2018 India purchased 48.2 million barrels of US Crude oils, a significant increase from 9.6 million in 2017. The ease with restrictions has played a vital role in increasing the supply of crude oil between both countries. Because relations have been so emphatic over the past decade, this unusual move is compelling a contradiction.
India Protesting against Freedom of Navigation Amendment by the US Navy
India’s outrage on the highly giggled matter got covered on Friday when the Ministry of external affairs condemned the United States suspicious activities. The United States conducted a patrol in the Indian External Economic Zone(EEZ) in the Western Indian Ocean.
The MEA asserted that it has been constantly monitoring USS John Paul Jones transiting from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits. India’s domestic maritime laws are affirmative in their motion about not letting other states conduct pretentious activities over its coastline. The message got conveyed to the United States government but they strongly defended their stance.
The incident comes as a bewildering falling out between the two partners in the Quadrilateral Grouping. Recently, in a preview meeting, the United States and the Indian government had committed to upholding freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. The real question is- if the strenuous exercise for upholding got amended, then why did the United States Navy comply with following the international laws? Why didn’t it adhere to its commitment of not breaking the lines without consent?
According to the FONOP reports released by the United States Department of Defense for each fiscal year, The United States has been conducting regular FONOPs in India’s EEZ. The claims were astonishing but turned out to be an extreme violation when the US Navy officials made the FONOPs public. Economists allegedly commented their opinion saying, that the US has been doing these surveys across many countries, but conducting military maneuvers without permission is absurd. Commenting on the development, former Navy Chief Adm Arun Prakash said on Twitter that there was an “irony” in this.
The United States Department of Defense should be reminiscent of India’s ratification of UNCLOS in 1905. The former Navy Chief said that it is astonishing that the US has failed to provide further details contemplating the matter. For the 7th Fleet to conduct FONOPs in India’s EEZ is bad enough to question the relations between the two provisions. The Navy Chief sarcastically tweeted, ” Why Publicize the FONOPs? USN please switch on IFF( Identification, Friend or Foe)!”
The consternation on the Indian side was that the United States Administration could have told them about the FONOPs earlier. They believed that friendly alliances won’t break the confined lines of domestic policies. Indian Chief Command also resorted to saying that the countries have been extending their ties and building interoperability. Despite the rare occurrence of the catastrophic event, there might be a strong message got conveyed by Americans through this motive.
A Condemning Message to China
Indian authorities were conjecturing the motive behind American’s unprecedented havoc. It is denoted as a message being bouldered to China. India has ratified the International law of the seas in 1995. The United States accepts this law in its essence in most areas, which gives the grant for the authorities to explore for mineral deposits on the seabeds. The ratification of the law, however, had some criteria. India laid the groundwork for any military vessels coming into EEZ without consent would be grafted illegally.
China is a signatory to this law, but it holds on to many stringent requirements. The Chinese regulations said that nobody could pave their way into their exclusive economic zone without their consent. Here is the paradox: Chinese regulatory policy-makers have been conjuring up islands anywhere in the seas. What was the signature motive that rallied such oppressive heat on the topic?
American warships have been carrying maneuvers in those waters to China and making a noteworthy point that they have the freedom of navigation. The Americans might have not congested the dog fight between them and China and therefore prompted illegal ways to show their supremacy. The Americans violated the rule that India has imposed, to assert that no country has the landmark or authority to be supreme than the international convention.
The hush on the topic gauging various opinions
The US’s hush as to why they went public is making the matter go out of control. The US statement which went public said the United States Forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region daily. All operations are designed in accordance with international law. The conspicuous deliberation was not taken as optimistic signs by the Indian authorities. It almost felt like the Americans were willing to show their authoritativeness by any means. The calling card of the action raised questions whether the US-India is actually heading forward, or just a sign of the United States conducting more operations that are illegal.
Although the hype has been circulated around the motive, the journalists believe that the Americans may have secretly told their Indian counterparts that It Is just for a condemnation of Chinese troops, Nothing unkind is aimed towards Indians. Maybe Is the big question until the US speaks up on the proliferation. Officials in India assert that it’s bizarre to release such a statement. Any activity within 200 km Nautical miles– which falls under EEZ is regarded as fretful if undertaken without consent.
While if such operations continue to prosper under the shush, then the relationship of the Quad Nations could be affected massively. With the United States abiding by international laws, it is very challenging for India to sustain patrolling for a long-time. Actions need to be confronted before the woes wobble the impactful relations. India’s domestic channels are reliant on the US for many of its operations and with China already enforcing a war, it could be bad times for the Indian government.
The Pattern of Patrolling is Surging within the Indo-Pacific region
In the past, the United States Navy has regularly confiscated such patrols, dubbed as Freedom of Navigation Program in Quad Nations and the contentious South China Sea. The pattern has got more coverage due to the shrinking relations between China and The United States. The activities that get conducted are often catered in a political sense, as the world’s Colossal democracies look to stamp their authority.
It’s the battle of the best and that’s why The United States is following the footsteps of China at another level by patrolling in China, India, and other prolific nations across the world. Surprisingly, a provocative declaration of similar patrols gets conducted in the future makes us wonder as to what the real-worthy for the United States might be. The statement comes out at a moment when the US is seeking India’s cooperation in strengthening “alliances and partnerships” to foster credible deterrence against China. The revoked motive has had strong reactions in New Delhi.
The US contemplating the Idea of Breaking through passages Has Gigantic Implications on the Native Nations
The assertion of navigation rights and freedom by the USS John Paul Jones is not only happening in India. But across the Quad Nations, as well as the Asian forefronts. On April 7, the US Navy said that it asserted FONOPs in the vicinity of Maldives within its EEZ without any prior notice. The violation affirmed to get verified with international law. Is it really secure and ethical to enter sensitive zones of a nation without even seeking permission?
The United States authorities presume that. DOD often identifies the broad range of excessive maritime claims, which gets challenged by the US government. So it is uncertain whether the state of affairs would continue or the United States will comply with these challenges and restrict their activities. Implications around the hype have erupted questions among nations that if the contentious issues prompt up simultaneously, then the countries might resort to force closure of the Quad Nations agreement.
