Indo-US Relations: A Big Leap forward

The meeting between the visiting US President Barak Hussain Obama and the Indian Prime Minister Narendir Modi at New Delhi has cemented the ‘new journey’ in the bilateral relationship. The latest meeting has gone beyond the symbolic gestures and protocols and has moved the Indo-US bilateral relations towards a new direction. The Obama’s visit to the India and his joint press conference with the India Prime Minister after the scheduled bilateral dialogue meeting vindicates its significance both symbolically and substantially as well.

The Symbolic significance of the Obama’s visit is that he became the only president who visited the India twice during his tenure as the US president. He is the first US president who became the Chief Guest during the India’s Republic Day celebrations. From the Indian side, the Prime Minister broke the official protocol while he himself received the US president at the airport. The ‘walk the talk’ and ‘Chai Pai Chercha’ where other symbolic gestures which were seen during the one to one meeting between the two heads of the governments.

The substantial importance of the visit is based on the fact that the Indo-US relations have moved from slogans to the actions. The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement of 2005 which was one of the big irritants in the further progress of bilateral engagements due its non-operationalization has now been resolved. The agreement is been credited as a ‘centerpiece’ in transforming the bilateral engagements and making Indo-US partnership what the US president called “defining partnership in the 21^st century”.

The related part of the civil nuclear agreement was the Indian nuclear liability act of 2010. The US companies were not ready to do business as they were apprehensive about some provisions of the Indian liability law. The main issues were the provision of torts and liability on the part of supplier. The section 17 (b) of the act which enforces that in case of a nuclear accident the suppliers of the equipments shall be responsible for unlimited liability and under its section 46 even the affected individual can sue the supplier. These apprehensions raised by the US companies have now been addressed and therefore, the logjam on the implementation of the nuclear agreement has ended.

The other contentious issue raised by the Indian side related to the nuclear deal was ‘tracking clause’ of the supplied fuel and equipments by the USA under the agreement. The Obama has used his executive powers to withdraw this clause therefore; the supplied fuel and the equipments for the Indian nuclear reactors would not be tracked and verified by the US.

The Indo-US bilateral relations have taken a new leaf on defense front. The two sides have agreed to extend the Defense Framework Agreement for further ten years. It is pertinent to mention that the defense agreement was dome in June 2005 and it was likely to get expire this year. The two sides have also agreed in principal to move for co-development and co-production of weapons under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). Moreover the US has also accepted to pursue Indian membership in five nuclear related groups and agreements like NSG (Nuclear Supplies Group), Australia Group, Wassenaar Arrangement etc.

The US President has also reiterated its position on the issue of India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council while saying that the US supports the reformation of the UN Security Council and India’s candidature. The two sides also resolved that a hotline would be launched between the two heads of the governments and at foreign secretaries’ level. The two sides also signed the three MOU’s on the smart city project initiated by the Modi’s government.

On defense and nuclear side the two countries are in win-win situation. The US companies can now sell the nuclear reactors and equipments to the India and can earn huge business fortunes. There is a one estimation which suggests that one nuclear reactor can generate ten thousand employees in the United States. From the Indian perspective the deal is not too bad. The deficiency in the electricity generation can now be met through the nuclear energy. The nuclear agreement can prove decisive in realizing the Modi’s dream of providing 24 hours electricity to the whole India.

            The bilateral meeting has also raised certain sensitive far implicating issues. The mentioning of India’s cooperation against the ISIS in the West Asia and in the Afghanistan is geo-politically vulnerable for the India’s security. The Indian stand so far had been not to align in any military conflict with the big powers. The US is insisting India to play a major role in the international counter terrorism. It is yet to clear whether India is formally joining the US anti terrorism policy. On the Afghanistan issue the major US alley Pakistan will not welcome any role of India in the Afghanistan. Therefore, the Indian involvement in both the regions can prove counterproductive to the India from its security point of view. Moreover, the all weather Indian friend Russia is not one the same line vis-à-vis the conflict in the West Asia is concern.

The US has number of goals to achieve during the visit of their president to the India. Other than big business contracts the US has also an eye on the rising China threat and India’s role as a balancer. The joint press conference of Modi-Obama did mention about the mutual cooperation in the Asia Pacific. The US policy of Asia Pivot announced in 2011 by the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is nothing but to counter the Chinese aggressive policies in the region. The US project the India as ‘lynchpin’ to its new policy in the region. It is yet to seen to what extent India is ready to play its role for the US against the China, but one thing can be asserted that India has to pursue its policy in a calculate manner as the US is habitual to take turns 360 degree. Who knows tomorrow G2 (US-China) become a reality. If it happened then it would be difficult for India to balance.

The bilateral relation does not end here. There are other issue like climate and the US investment in the infrastructure building in the India. The Indian stand on the climate issue is not in line with the United States. From the Indian perspective the bottom line on climate issue is “shared but differentiated responsibility”. The Modi during the joint press conference said that “we will not come under pressure on the issue of climate.” Therefore, the climate issue may prove very contentious between the two countries. Moreover, the India needs the US in order to achieve its ten Million project of Smart Cities. Other than these issues India aims that the US will cooperate in the field of agriculture, renewable energy, education cyber security and space. The future will tell to what extent the bilateral realtions will blossom, but, one thing is explicit that the Indo-US bilateral relations have got new direction and forward moment.