Blake’s bunkum about US base in Maldives..

Blake’s bunkum about US base in Maldives.. Controversy surrounding the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States and the Maldives sent top US officials into damage control mode last week. In an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI), US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, was quoted as saying his country had ‘no plans’ to have a permanent military presence in the Maldives. Blake was responding to concerns reportedly raised by both India and Sri Lanka regarding the contents of an unauthenticated draft of the agreement leaked to the media. Not surprisingly, the contents of the leaked draft have drawn concerns from both New Delhi and Colombo, and the US government has put forward its top diplomat for the region in an attempt to ease these fears. Blake, who has vast experience in the region in his capacity as a former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and also as the former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in New Delhi, had noted in the interview that he does not foresee difficulties regarding negotiating the SOFA with the Maldives. “I want to reassure everybody that this SOFA does not imply some new uptick in military co-operation or certainly does not apply any new military presence. It would just be to support our ongoing activities,” he had reportedly said. Blake, however, had refrained from commenting on the authenticity of the draft agreement as he had ‘not seen it’. Still, he is quoted as saying he expects the SOFA to be signed very soon. According to him, the US has ‘consulted’ New Delhi on the SOFA with Maldives and has added no concerns have been expressed by the Indian side thus far. “There are no plans to establish a US naval base in the Maldives. So they (Sri Lanka) should not be worried about that,” the Assistant Secretary is also quoted as saying. ‘Normal practice’ US forces currently conduct a joint military exercise (titled ‘Coconut Grove’) with Maldivian Defense Forces. Blake had stated the SOFA to be signed would help to provide framework for such activities. “It’s simply more of a framework to provide for (ongoing) co-operation,” Blake had said. So, in essence, Blake has simply waved away any concerns that those in India and Sri Lanka have when he, by his own admission, hasn’t even seen the draft agreement. It is also pertinent to point out that neither Blake nor the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Michelle J. Sison, who has also commented on the issue, have dismissed the alleged leaked document of the draft agreement as a fake. Blake has simply said he hasn’t seen it, while Sison is quoted by Maldivian media as saying such an agreement is ‘normal practice’. The US has also pointed out it has more than 100 such agreements with nations around the world. And if India has not raised concerns, why does the US feel the need to ‘reassure’ them? In the absence of any denial regarding the authenticity of the leaked draft at government level, one can only assume that the document might well be genuine. What does it say? According to Section 3 of Article II (Scope) of the draft states United States Personnel ‘shall be authorized to wear uniforms while performing official duties and to carry arms while on duty if authorized to do so by their orders’. Section 5 of Article II states US personnel and US contractors ‘shall have freedom of movement and access to and use of agreed transportation, storage, training, and agreed facilities and areas in connection with activities under this Agreement’. Shifting strategic interests This is not about ‘supporting ongoing activities’. Article VIII (Movement of Aircraft, Vehicles, and Vessels) allows US vessels and vehicles (whether self-propelled or towed, read ‘Drones included) to enter, exit, and move freely within the territory and territorial seas of the Maldives, free from boarding and inspection. Article X (Use of Agreed Facilities and Areas) grants access to and use of aerial ports, seaports, and Agreed Facilities and Areas for transit, support, and related activities; bunkering of ships; refueling of aircraft; maintenance of vessels, aircraft, vehicles, and equipment, accommodation of personnel; communications, ship visits; training; exercises; and humanitarian activities. It is no secret that the US military strategic interests have shifted to Asia during the recent past. This ‘Asia Pivot’ sees strategic military assets being shifted to this part of the region, fuelled mainly by China’s rise and increased military and economic influence in this part of the world and beyond. How many US military personnel, contractors, are we talking about here? How many vessels and aircraft will be ‘moving freely’ within the territory and territorial seas of the Maldives? Whatever claims peddled by US officials of this being ‘normal practice’, it is clear from the leaked draft that this is not a case of a small group of US military trainers and some other assets being housed ‘temporarily’ with our neighbors to the south. These plans are for something much, much bigger. And it will be in place for 10 long years (at least)! India’s stand How can India be comfortable with this? Blake claims they’re in consultation with New Delhi on the issue and no concerns have been raised thus far. Will India, which has always enjoyed the status of playing ‘Big Brother’ to the rest of South Asia, simply stand by while the US virtually carves out a valuable piece of strategic real estate on its doorstep, or is it also trying to use the US to counter Chinese influence in South Asia? Is Sri Lanka ‘fine with this’ or more pertinently CAN Sri Lanka be happy about this