Ahead of the summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, Major General (Retd) P.K. Sehgal told Sputnik on Wednesday that Modi would not bow to Washington's 'desires' when it comes to India's defence exports and foreign policy in general.
Sehgal's remarks come on the heels of recent media reports which mentioned that the US was willing to transfer as much as 80% of vital technology for the F414 jet engines that are crucial for India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
"Our Prime Minister is a tough negotiator and he does his homework well. He has categorically told the Americans that India would sell the Tejas Mark-2 to friendly countries including Egypt, and New Delhi would not take any nonsense from the US," Sehgal asserted.
He added that the Indian leader's visit to Washington is not aimed against Russia or China. That said, President Joe Biden will host Modi at the White House on Thursday.
"They (America) need India far more than...India needs America. Prime Minister Modi has very categorically stated that this visit is not aimed at Russia or China," Sehgal said.
Sehgal noted that the Americans had no choice but to agree to the transfer of critical weapons technology to India, given that New Delhi's influence was growing in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond.
Once the deal goes through, the engines currently built by the American multinational conglomerate, General Electric, in the US, would be manufactured in India in a joint venture established between the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the American company.
These engines will be fitted into India's latest indigenous aircraft, the Tejas Mk-2 jet, and the country's futuristic stealth fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
With that in mind, Sehgal stated that given the present global environment, the Americans have come to grips with India's growing influence both financially and militarily.
According to him, New Delhi is becoming a force to reckon with not only in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) but in the Indo-Pacific also.
India's areas of interest and influence are expanding, and New Delhi is increasingly becoming capable of playing a significant role in these two areas.
The military veteran mentioned that Modi's visit is aimed at the improvement of India's technology, trade, economy, job creation, and the transfer of emerging and critical technologies in several areas, including the manufacture of jet engines.
The US has even promised that all restrictions and regulations that were constraining the transfer of technology between the two nations will now be removed.
"America has gone to the extent of wanting India to be part of the NATO+ five alliance which New Delhi has absolutely and bluntly rejected. Because there is no way, the South Asian nation will compromise on its strategic autonomy nor it will be going to compromise on its equations with Russia. Because Moscow has been its time-tested friend since the time of independence," the defense expert added.
He revealed that today, 70% of India's defence arsenal comes from Russia. So there's going to be no compromise as such concerning New Delhi's friendship with the Eurasian country.
In other words, Delhi is going ahead with signing certain deals, keeping Indian interests in mind.
Also, India has said that if there is a future market for the Advanced Medium Range Aircraft (AMCA) that is under-development, it will sell it to other countries. The ex-Indian Army officer also pointed out that "the Americans have agreed".
Sehgal said that the US wants India to sell its weapons to countries in the Middle East and nations in Southeast Asia.
"In the end, I would say that India is dictating terms in defense deals with the US. These deals are India-specific, they are India-driven, and America is playing the ballgame as per India's desires," he concluded.