New Delhi: Biden-era US official Lindsey Ford warned in a Congressional hearing that the United States could not realistically pressure India to abandon its longstanding reliance on Russian military supplies without offering credible alternatives.
The deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and Southeast Asia under the previous Joe Biden administration, Lindsay Ford, said, “America needs to understand that if we ask India to diversify away from Russia, it will create a real vulnerability for India. If America does not step up to provide things militarily, we should have no expectation that India will walk away from Russia.”
In her testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Ford underscored three essential points about the US-India security partnership, highlighting its role in deterring Beijing through India’s unique geography and scale.
She stressed that New Delhi’s trust in the US administration had largely eroded after Washington’s stance on the Pahalgam attack, followed by the 50 percent tariff imposed on India after it purchased Russian energy.
Ford’s remarks come at a time when India and the US have shown recovery after the announcement of the trade deal earlier this month, which reduced the tariffs from nearly 50 percent to 18 percent.
This move eased the frictions which built up over trade barriers and protectionist measures.
Also Read: Amid expiration of New START, US says China held ‘covert’ nuclear test days after 2020 Galwan clash
US’s confidence-building
Ford cautioned that expecting India to diversify away from Russia would backfire unless the US demonstrated a willingness to provide military capabilities it had historically withheld.
“If the United States does not look like we are willing to step up in providing things militarily that we have not been able or willing to do in the past, we should have no expectation that India will want to walk away from what has been a very long-term relationship and military reliance.”
She further urged Washington to accelerate high-end capabilities, such as air defences, long-range fires, and undersea systems, to restore Indian confidence in joint modernisation efforts.
US’s Pakistan strategy
Responding to questions on US policy towards Pakistan, Ford dismissed the US’s “wedge strategy” to separate Pakistan from China as unrealistic.
She further added that India’s scepticism mirrored US critiques of Delhi’s Russia ties.
She advised the US and Western allies to seriously examine Indian concerns, as Pakistan’s acquisition of Western tactics, training, or technology could flow to China, due to Islamabad’s close ties with Beijing.
“The Pakistan relationship with China today is so much further advanced than it was a decade ago. It behoves the United States to interrogate a little more the degree to which some of the things that Indian colleagues raise as concerns,” Ford added.
India’s China Strategy
On India’s swift bans on Chinese telecom gear and social media apps, Ford praised New Delhi’s “hard and realistic view” of Beijing’s technology threats that positioned it ahead of others.
“India moved faster than everybody else on ripping China out of the telecom sector, out of social media apps.”
She argued this approach strengthened ties with Europe, whereas India’s stance helped “harden Europe’s spine” on China policy amid growing manufacturing and trade links.
Ford further recommended that the US pursue similar decisive measures to align with India’s proactive model.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: Paws for peace: Aloka, the Indie rescue dog concludes the 2,300-mile march with monks