Daily Times

The all-time high increase in US military aid to its strategic partners in Asia like India, Israel and the Philippines, and the massive hike in the defence budgets of these countries indicate a new push of the superpower’s designs in the Indian Ocean region, as well as part of the new world order ahead of presidential elections in the US. Pakistan amongst the world community is considered the so-called frontline ally in its war against terrorism, and in the process during the last one decade has sacrificed over 45,000 people’s lives and around $ one trillion worth of economic losses besides chaos on the political, educational and societal fronts. That has not only been ignored in the past, but at the height of this war Pakistan is not being provided the basic weapons, even intelligence surveillance gadgets, which could help it eliminate terrorists from the FATA region along the Afghan border.

According to reports, Israel will receive a record $ four billion in military aid in 2013; following a decision by the US House of Representatives Defence Appropriations Subcommittee, which just approved over $ 948 million in funding for Israel’s anti-missile defence programmes. This is reportedly part of the US’s final move against Iran. $ 679 million of the funding will go to the Iron Dome, the remaining $ 269 million will go to Israel’s other anti-missile initiatives: the short-range David’s Sling ($ 149.7m), and the current long-range Arrow anti-ballistic missile system and its successor the Arrow 3 ($ 119.3m). These projects, unlike the Iron Dome, are joint Israel-US projects. While the increase in the funding for the Iron Dome was expected, the funding for the other projects represents an increase of $ 169 million over the Obama administration’s proposed number.

But how Israel is facing opposition from inside against its anti-Iran moves under the US pressure is evident from no other than a former Israeli army chief of staff’s statement. In a single week, the former head of internal security and the former head of external security have all publicly questioned Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s judgment on Iran. While the current army chief spoke narrowly about the Iranian government, the former security officials directed their fire at Israeli politicians. On Friday, May 6, the former internal security chief told an Israeli audience, “I don’t believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on messianic feelings,” and he was speaking not of Iran, but of Israel.

Another report by AFP said the US will nearly triple its military funding for the Philippines this year as tensions rise with China over the disputed islands and Washington bolsters its alliance with Manila. The Philippines accounted for over 70 percent of the total FMF allocation for East Asia in 2006, compared to 35 percent this year. Washington agreed to provide $ 30 million in FMF this year, up from an initial 2012 allocation of $ 15 million and from $ 11.9 million last year. In 2003, funding amounted to $ 50 million as Washington sent forces to help the Philippines battle al Qaeda-linked militants. The Philippines is offering the US greater access to its airfields and may open new areas for US soldiers to use as it seeks stronger military ties with its ally and faces rising tensions with China in the maritime dispute. The US also agreed at the meeting to share ‘real-time’ data on the South China Sea, suggesting it will give Manila more of its surveillance data on naval activity. The State Department also promised to explore “creative funding streams” to help the Philippine military. Since 2002, the Philippines has received nearly $ 500 million in military aid from the US. The amount does not include the transfer of 20 reconditioned helicopters, a Cyclone-class ship and a Hamilton-class cutter. A second Hamilton-class cutter will be transferred later this month and the two sides are discussing the possibility of a third Hamilton-class ship and a squadron of second-hand F-16 fighters.

India, on the other end, is the largest weapon importer as per the study made by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Over the past five years, Asia and Oceania accounted for 44 percent in volume of conventional arms imports. That compared with 19 percent for Europe, 17 percent for the Middle East, 11 percent for North and South America, and nine percent for Africa. India was the first world importer over the period, accounting for 10 percent in weapons volume. It was followed by South Korea (six percent), China and Pakistan (both five percent), and Singapore (four percent), according to the independent institute, which specialises in arms control and disarmament matters. These five countries accounted for 30 percent of the volume of international arms imports. “India’s imports of major weapons increased by 38 percent in 2002-2006 and then in 2007-11. Notable deliveries of combat aircraft during 2007-11 included 120 Su-30MKs and 16 MiG-29Ks from Russia and 20 Jaguar Ss from the UK.”

India raised its defence budget 17 percent this year and announced to purchase heavy and sophisticated weapons, aircraft, navy ships worth billions of dollars. The world community this time took serious note of it and defence analysts across the US and Europe proved that China, which shares billions of dollars trade with India, is not a threat for India and therefore such a huge arms buildup is meaningless and certainly seems to be Pakistan-specific. Another point is noteworthy that the diplomats, State Department officials and even the news agencies that report the hike in aid, clearly play with the words and the impression of “arms sale to continue running their war industry” is tactfully diverted to “US military aid”, which is not at all military aid. There is no military ‘aid’ but military ‘sales’ only. The US will nearly triple its military funding for the Philippines this year, which means the US will arrange American bank loans that will increase threefold the sale of American weapons to the Philippines and increase threefold the Philippines’ external debt. The aim of this ‘aid’ is to make the Philippines a much poorer and deeply indebted country, so that the only way of paying back is by offering the US more land, both for exploitation as well as for more military bases. The same is the case with Pakistan and if India is unaware of this ‘exploitation’, then it is mistaken that for the sake of a temporary benefit, it is putting at stake the future of this region and helping make the future generations hostage to others, like they did in the past.

The writer is a freelance columnist and she can be reached at schuma.raja@yahoo.com