India notes that:
-Ethiopia has no requirement for the power projection capability of an aircraft carrier, as it lacks offshore possessions and its sole overseas trade route - through the Red Sea to Italy - is a narrow body of water wholly within the reach of aircraft operating out of the Italian and Italian-allied states bounding this narrow body of water.
-Ethiopia has no history of or present conflict with India or South Africa, and no obvious cause for future conflict with either state. There are no shared borders, there are no contradicting claims on territory or resources, there are no religious or cultural clashes.
-Compared to the establishment of simple dirt airstrips along the coast, the purchase of an aircraft carrier is a much higher capital cost, its maintenance is much greater, and the technical expertise required for its operation is significantly higher. The aircraft carrier will do nothing to alleviate access issues to the interior of Ethiopia, which is assumed to be the region most in need of access.
It is India's view that this sale constitutes an attempt by Italy to circumvent the Cleito Treaty by taking advantage of a cordial relationship with a Non-Contracting Power. Therefore, India votes under Part 3, Chapter J (IX) in favor of blocking the sale.
[Could Nordmark explicitly state whether it votes for or against the sale?]