The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, put the brakes on the BrahMos missile export program, according to leaked documents. These documents, obtained by investigative journalists, reveal a cautious approach driven by concerns about upsetting China, a major regional power.
BrahMos Aerospace, under the leadership of Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, was actively pursuing export opportunities for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, a joint venture between India and Russia. However, the UPA government's reluctance to greenlight these deals, particularly to countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, became evident in the leaked communications.
Philippines and Indonesia Visits Canceled
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) intervened to postpone a planned BrahMos team visit to the Philippines, citing the lack of political clearance. This move highlighted the government's apprehension about potential diplomatic fallout with China, who might view the sale of advanced missiles to countries in the region as a threat.Similarly, a visit by an Indonesian delegation to the BrahMos Aerospace office in New Delhi was abruptly canceled. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) justified this decision by stating that a final decision on BrahMos exports was pending. Despite Indonesia not officially requesting to purchase the missiles, previous interactions, including showcasing BrahMos on Indian naval ships visiting Indonesia, were seen as potentially misleading.
Foreign Secretary Issues Directive
In a broader policy directive to Dr. Pillai, the Foreign Secretary reiterated the government's support for BrahMos exports in principle, but under strict conditions aligned with national security and foreign policy interests. However, the directive imposed a temporary freeze on all export-related discussions until the government formulated a comprehensive missile export policy.This directive echoed an earlier MoD position, endorsed by the then-Defence Minister, which had already put a hold on all BrahMos export talks pending a decision on the broader issue of missile exports.
Cautious Approach Prevails
The leaked documents paint a picture of a UPA government treading carefully on the BrahMos export front. While recognizing the potential benefits of the program, they prioritized a cautious and measured approach, driven by a desire to avoid antagonizing China and to ensure a well-defined export policy was in place before proceeding with any deals.This cautious approach contrasts with the current NDA government's more proactive stance on defence exports, including the BrahMos missile. The NDA government has actively sought to expand India's defence export market and has been less hesitant about selling the BrahMos to friendly nations, including the Philippines.
The leaked documents provide valuable insights into the decision-making processes within the UPA government and shed light on the complex geopolitical considerations that influenced their approach to defense exports.
Please note: This news article is based on leaked documents and open-source information. The UPA government's official position on BrahMos exports may differ from the information presented here.
