India-US space cooperation: Implications for the South Asian strategic stability

Abstract

India and US are cooperating in outer space domain since 1963. They agreed on “Next Step in Space Partnership (NSSP) and Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI)”. America is strengthening Indian space capabilities by easily providing access to military space technology because China is the common threat that prompted them to cooperate. India became member of different export control regimes such as Missile Technology Control Regimes, Wassenaar Arrangements, and Strategic Trade Authorization Act-1. India-US Basic Exchange Cooperation Agreements and Indian membership of export control regimes are evident of the fact that India will become space hegemon in imminent future. India and US are having space cooperation to counter Chinese space rising posture, but it is also threatening space capabilities of Pakistan. Indian enhanced space capabilities and space situational awareness/intelligence prompted it to launch pre-emptive strike against Pakistan. This India-US space cooperation is having negative implications for South Asian strategic stability and resulted into exacerbating an arm race in South Asia and prompting Pakistan to collaborate with China. The purpose of the study is to understand How USA is assisting India in its space program? Why is India cooperating with USA in space domain? What will be implications of India-US space cooperation for the South Asia region? This research is using qualitative, descriptive and analytical research methodology.