PM Modi to take call on inviting Japan for India-US Malabar naval exercise
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the final call on whether to invite Japan for the top-notch Malabar exercise between India and the US. (File photo)
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the final call on whether to invite Japan for the top-notch Malabar exercise between India and the US to be held in the Bay of Bengal later this year, which is likely to witness the participation of American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
Even as defence minister Manohar Parrikar heads for Tokyo with a top-level military delegation over the weekend, sources on Thursday said Japan as of now did not figure in the initial groundwork for the 19th edition of Malabar to be held in September-October.
"The PMO will decide on Japan's participation before the planning conference between India and the US is conducted for the exercise. Given that the PM and US President Barack Obama in their summits in September and January have committed to upgrading the level of Malabar, Modi is likely to pitch for Japan's participation," said a source.
If it happens, it will be interesting because China had strongly protested against the 2007 edition of Malabar in the Bay of Bengal since it was expanded to include the Australian, Japanese and Singaporean navies as well. Beijing had viewed the multilateral naval exercise as part of a grand security axis in the Asia-Pacific region to "contain'' it.
The previous UPA regime had then restricted Japan's participation in the Malabar to just the 2009 and 2014 editions since they were held in north-western Pacific. In the backdrop of Modi's personal chemistry with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and their intent to build stronger bilateral strategic ties, Japan may well be invited to take part in the exercise in India's eastern seaboard as well.
But no such decision is expected during the visit of Parrikar, who will be accompanied by the defence secretary as well as the deputy chiefs of the three Services, to Japan from March 28 to April 1.
Similarly, while India is very keen to acquire at least a dozen of the massive ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft from Japan for around $1.3 billion, no decision is likely in the near future. "The modalities are still to be worked out despite the bilateral joint working group discussing technology transfer and licenced production of US-2i since 2013," said a source.
In keeping with the Modi government's thrust on 'Make in India', it will be economically and technically unviable to produce just 17 aircraft - 12 for Navy and five for Coast Guard as of now - domestically. "Each of this plane will cost around Rs 700-800 crore. Who else will buy it in India? Should then it be a direct purchase from Japan? All these matters have to be sorted out," he said.
Even as defence minister Manohar Parrikar heads for Tokyo with a top-level military delegation over the weekend, sources on Thursday said Japan as of now did not figure in the initial groundwork for the 19th edition of Malabar to be held in September-October.
"The PMO will decide on Japan's participation before the planning conference between India and the US is conducted for the exercise. Given that the PM and US President Barack Obama in their summits in September and January have committed to upgrading the level of Malabar, Modi is likely to pitch for Japan's participation," said a source.
If it happens, it will be interesting because China had strongly protested against the 2007 edition of Malabar in the Bay of Bengal since it was expanded to include the Australian, Japanese and Singaporean navies as well. Beijing had viewed the multilateral naval exercise as part of a grand security axis in the Asia-Pacific region to "contain'' it.
The previous UPA regime had then restricted Japan's participation in the Malabar to just the 2009 and 2014 editions since they were held in north-western Pacific. In the backdrop of Modi's personal chemistry with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and their intent to build stronger bilateral strategic ties, Japan may well be invited to take part in the exercise in India's eastern seaboard as well.
But no such decision is expected during the visit of Parrikar, who will be accompanied by the defence secretary as well as the deputy chiefs of the three Services, to Japan from March 28 to April 1.
Similarly, while India is very keen to acquire at least a dozen of the massive ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft from Japan for around $1.3 billion, no decision is likely in the near future. "The modalities are still to be worked out despite the bilateral joint working group discussing technology transfer and licenced production of US-2i since 2013," said a source.
In keeping with the Modi government's thrust on 'Make in India', it will be economically and technically unviable to produce just 17 aircraft - 12 for Navy and five for Coast Guard as of now - domestically. "Each of this plane will cost around Rs 700-800 crore. Who else will buy it in India? Should then it be a direct purchase from Japan? All these matters have to be sorted out," he said.
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