US Senate fails to pass bill on special status for India

The Senate has failed to recognise India as a “global strategic and defence partner” of the US after a key amendment necessary to modify its export control regulations could not be passed.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address to a joint session of Congress, top Republican senator John McCain had moved an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-17) which, if passed, would have recognised India as a global strategic and defence partner.

The US had recognised India as a “major defence partner” in a joint statement issued after Mr Modi held talks with US President Barack Obama, which supported defence-related trade and technology transfer to the country which would now be treated on par with America’s closest allies.

NDAA was passed by the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 85-13. But some of the key amendments including the (SA 4618) — even though they had bipartisan support — could not be passed by the Senate.

“The (Senate) amendment (No 4618) was not adopted to the NDAA,” a Congressional aide said.

Without specifically mentioning this particular legislative move on India, Mr McCain expressed disappointment that many key amendments could not see the light of day.

“I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support,” Mr McCain said in a statement.