Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, a powerful Congress committee has recommended India’s inclusion in ‘NATO Plus (North Atlantic Treaty Organization Plus)’.
NATO Plus (now NATO Plus 5) is a security arrangement that brings together NATO and the five alliance nations Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea to enhance global defense cooperation.
The inclusion of India in this will enable seamless sharing of intelligence between these countries and India will have access to modern military technology without any time lag.
The House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) passed a policy resolution to enhance Taiwan’s deterrence capability, including strengthening NATO Plus by including India. The committee is headed by Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamurthy.
“To win strategic competition with the Communist Party of China and ensure Taiwan’s security, the United States needs to strengthen ties with our allies and security partners, including India,” the select committee said. India’s inclusion in NATO Plus will enhance the US and India’s close partnership in countering CCP aggression in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthening global security.
Indian-American Ramesh Kapoor, who has been working on the proposal for the past six years, said it was a significant development. He hoped that this recommendation would find a place in the National Defense Authorization Act 2024 and eventually become a law.
Significantly, Prime Minister Modi will come on a state visit to American next month.
