India and the Anglosphere

India and the Anglosphere
 

News: Recently, the US, UK and Australia have unveiled details of their plan to create a new fleet of nuclearpowered submarines, aimed at countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Under the AUKUS pact Australia is to get at least three nuclear-powered submarines from the US.
 

What is AUKUS grouping?
 It is a trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific, between Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) which was signed in 2021.
 The major highlight of this arrangement is the sharing of US nuclear submarine technology to Australia.
 For Canberra, London, and Washington, the AUKUS is about promoting deterrence and stability in the IndoPacific.
 For China, AUKUS, along with the Quadrilateral forum or the Quad, is one of the dangerous “small cliques” that the US is building in Asia.
 

What are the consequences of AUKUS grouping for Asia?
 The AUKUS partnership has been perceived as a challenge to the security and stability of the region, particularly by China. The agreement includes the sharing of sensitive defense technologies and intelligence, which has raised concerns about its impact on the strategic balance in the region.
 The AUKUS partnership involves the transfer of nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia, which has raised concerns about its impact on global non-proliferation efforts.
 Renewed role of London who will now seek long-term stakes in the Indo-Pacific region.
 The recent agreement is expected to lead to increased competition and could potentially impact countries such as India as it will be difficult to sell defence equipment to Australia.
 AUKUS has reinvigorated the idea of an “Anglosphere” that speaks of the enduring geopolitical bonds between the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
 

How can India utilize potential of AUKUS grouping?
 With Australia's upgraded scientific and technical capabilities, there is an opportunity for India to deepen its S&T cooperation with Australia, which could eventually expand to sensitive strategic areas. This would enhance India's own technological capabilities and contribute to regional peace and security.
 India can have a rethink of how it should look towards UK. UK’s growing influence in the region can prompt more engagements and cooperation between India and UK.
 With the US seeking to boost the strategic capabilities of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, India has a rare opportunity to develop its own set of arrangements with the US and its allies. This could involve closer military cooperation, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing, among other things.
 

Way Forward
 AUKUS marks a significant change in US regional strategy for the Indo-Pacific. In the past, the US sought to promote regional security unilaterally through its own military capabilities. As it comes to terms with the enormous scale of the military challenges that China presents, Washington is now eager to boost the strategic capabilities of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
 Delhi, therefore has a rare opportunity to develop a unique set of arrangements of its own with Washington and its allies that will strengthen India’s comprehensive national power as well as enhance its contribution to regional peace and security.