U.S. President Barack Obama has signed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017 – the annual defense policy bill into law - which enhances security cooperation with India. The act calls for the U.S. defense secretary and secretary of state to take the required steps to recognise India as America's "major defense partner.”
The law, which authorizes a $618 billion defence budget for 2017, also conditions significant funding to Pakistan on a certification that it is taking attestable steps against the Haqqani network. U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter must certify to the Congress that Pakistan is carrying out military operations that are significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani network in Pakistan. Carter must also confirm that Islamabad has undertaken measures to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani network from its territory as a safe haven.
However, there were some aspects of the act that that the outgoing president was unhappy with. “Congress again failed to enact meaningful reforms to divest unneeded force structure, reduce wasteful overhead and modernize military healthcare,” he said. “Instead, the Congress redirects funding needed to support the warfighter to fund additional end-strength that our military leaders have not requested at a time when our troops are engaged overseas supporting the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and against al-Qaida."
He said he had signed it because it "authorizes fiscal year 2017 appropriations principally for the Department of Defense and for Department of Energy national security programs, provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes authorities to facilitate ongoing operations around the globe."
The legislation provides a 2.1 percent pay hike for the military and sets spending priorities and guidance for the current fiscal year.
Funding for the programs is delivered through a separate spending bill. Obama was also severely critical of Congress’s insistence on keeping open the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to Obama, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to keep just some 60 men in isolation undermined U.S. standing in the world and emboldened violent extremists.
This bill ensures Obama will not be able to close the prison before he leaves office.
“In February, my administration submitted a comprehensive plan to safely and responsibly close the detention facility,” Obama said. “Rather than answer that call and work with my administration to finally bring this chapter of our history to a close, this bill aims to make the facility a permanent fixture of our struggle against terrorism.”
Unless Congress changes course on Guantanamo, "it will be judged harshly by history," Obama declared. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said it was reassuring the outgoing president had signed the bill. “After overwhelming votes of bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, it is reassuring to see the President sign this year’s defense bill to further reform and rebuild our military,” he said on Friday. “This is a significant step for our troops, our allies and America’s national security, but there is still much work ahead to repair the damage done to our military over the past several years."
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