India cannot accept intrusiveness, says Admiral Mehta

Mehta said it could be that the US had ‘this kind of (End User) agreements with everyone. I don’t believe in that. We pay for something, we get some technology. What I do with it, is my thing’.

His comments were sought after former US Pacific Command Chief Admiral Dennis Blair said Indo-US military relationship had ‘slowed down’ because New Delhi had not signed three ‘very basic and routine’ agreements — Mutual Logistic Support Agreement, Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement and the End Use Monitoring Agreement.

“Because they are not signed, the Indian-American military relationship is slowed and there are extra expenses involved for India,” Blair said.

Earlier, addressing the IISS-Citi India Global Forum, the Navy Chief said India’s naval plans were “driven by the desire to contribute to create and consolidate a stable, peaceful and prosperous region where every nation, big or small, is treated as equal”.

Mehta said Indian naval presence in oceans and seas around it would continue to grow with the rising strength of its maritime forces. “Our intention is cooperative engagement to ensure peace, safety and security in the region.”