An American senator wants to include India in a group called NATO Plus, which is a security arrangement that brings together NATO and five other countries (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea). India had previously rejected joining this group. The purpose of this recommendation is for the United States to compete strategically with China in the Indo-Pacific region and protect the security of Taiwan. It also aims to impose economic sanctions effectively with the help of allies like QUAD and G7. India is part of the QUAD, which includes the US, Australia, and Japan.
If India becomes a member of NATO Plus, it would benefit from better sharing of intelligence with these countries. India would also have faster access to the latest military technology. This arrangement would strengthen the close partnership between India and the US.
It’s important to note that India doesn’t have a defense treaty with the US, but it has a special status as a “Major Defense Partner,” which allows for closer defense cooperation.
NATO was created by the US in 1949 to protect its European allies from the Soviet Union. If any member of NATO is attacked, it is considered an attack on all members, and they agree to defend each other. This has only been invoked once after the 9/11 attacks when the US invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban government that had supported the terrorist group Al Qaeda.
NATO is a military alliance with 31 member countries, including 29 from Europe and 2 from North America. All decisions are made by agreement among the members. The headquarters of NATO is in Brussels, Belgium. Russia has expressed discomfort with NATO’s continuation.