Congressional Statements

Pallone urges Secretary Powell to support sale of Israeli missile defense system to India

Press Release
July 23, 2002

Several days before U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to leave for India, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, today requested the Secretary voice support for the sale of an Israeli Arrow Weapon System to India.

The New Jersey congressman said the sale of the system, a defense shield that protects land from short and long-range ballistic missiles, is a positive step for US-India relations. Pallone believes, based on the defensive nature of the defense system, that the US should not delay its sale due to the conflict between India and Pakistan.

Pallone said that while there is support for the sale of the Arrow Weapon System to India at the Pentagon and in Israel, he has heard that during Secretary Powell's upcoming trip to India, Powell is preparing to express his objection to India's purchase of this missile defense system from Israel, due to the current military standoff between India and Pakistan.

"I strongly believe that the State Department's support for the Arrow Weapon System sale to India would further solidify the new defense relationship between the United States and India," Pallone wrote in a letter sent to Secretary Powell today. "For the past several months, the US and India have participated in numerous joint military exercises which have fostered a strong defense relationship between the two countries, which share democratic interests and have been working together well against global terrorism."

"In addition, the Arrow Weapon System was created to defend against short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles," Pallone continued. "Therefore, India's interest in the Arrow Weapon System is to improve missile defense, not offense, which is a key factor regarding this sale that needs to be considered."

Pallone also pointed to reports that indicate India is preparing to buy parts from the United States for military equipment, including helicopters, jets and radar systems. The sale of this equipment was initially delayed due to sanctions imposed on India in May 1998. The New Jersey congressman requested in his letter to Powell that, since those sanctions were lifted in September 2001, the sale of this equipment should not be delayed due to the current tension between India and Pakistan.