On the invitation of prime minister Narendra Modi, President Obama arrives in India for a three day visit with many objectives in mind.
Taking forward his "pivot to Asia" strategy,Obama will be taking Indo -US ties to a new and enhanced level driven by
focusing on various trade deals,joint ventures in defence.Specially a
major breakthrough is expected in operationalizing the civil nuclear
agreement between India and US.
Considering India as an important player in maintaining peace and
stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Obama will certainly give an
important role to India in his new foreign policy that also includes
military and diplomatic strategies. India is the key for America's Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at containing China besides balancing Beijing's ‘Maritime Silk Route’ as President Xi Jinping seeks to establish Chinese foothold in the Indian Ocean.
Both countries will deliberate on ways to boost military,trade and
economic ties while India is seeking greater cooperation on terrorism
and access to high-technology goods for civilian and military use.
Meanwhile, India said it will be more pro-active on climate change
issues if the US addresses its demand for transfer of green technology
and operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund pledged by the
developed world including America. xpectations are high as Obama and
Modi wants to take the Indo-US ties to a new level.
The phrase “lame duck” has been associated with the last years of a
presidency since the mid-1800s but Obama will change the meaning of the
said pharse as he will make some historic changes in the policies
domestically and internationally that will have a great impact
globally.
The Asia rebalance that President Obama articulated a couple of years
ago fundamentally is a recognition that this continent will play a
leading role in global politics, security and economics in the 21st
Century, and there is no question that India’s economic success is vital
to achieving the strategic aims that United States have laid out.
Moreover,India is being seen by US as an important counterweight to
the rise of China and after the withdrawal of ISAF troops from
Afghanistan,Obama's new policy is to reduce China's and Russia's
increasing influence in Central Asia.
Obama is keen in supporting India’s economic connections both west into
Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia; and east with Bangladesh,
Myanmar, and Southeast Asia as greater economic connectivity will boost
regional stability and prosperity.
Noting India's "Act East" policy and the United States' rebalance to
Asia," the joint statement issued just a few months before stated that
"rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes ... especially in
the South China Sea" and "urged the concerned parties to pursue
resolution of their territorial and maritime disputes through all
peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of
international law." This was the first time the disputed waters had
ever been mentioned in a joint Indo-U.S. statement.
The White House announced that the greater emphasis is on U.S.
engagement in Asia that intends to cultivate trade and counteract the
territorial ambitions of China. But now India has a major role to play
in stabilizing Afghanistan .
"He (Modi) has, in a sense, sent a message that no matter what he thinks about the US, he definitely wants to take the relationship in a new direction. I think that's really the critical
point that the invitation symbolises," Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, said.
Considering a grave threat from jihadists force, Obama will give
big push to the Indo-US cooperation on counter terrorism and his visit
comes at a time when Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups operating in
Pakistan announced to carry out attacks in South Asia, and the new
terror group Islamic State is enlaring its influence in Central and
South Asia.
Both India and US are trying hard to remove the impediments for the
operationalisation of the civil nuclear deal but the sticking point is
the Indian liability law that holds the suppliers directly liable in
case of a nuclear accident while countries like France and the US have
asked India to follow global norms under which the primary liability is
with the operator. Since all the nuclear power plants in the country are
run by the government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd
(NPCIL), following international norms will mean the government would
have to pay for the damages in case of an accident.
Another contentious clause in the liability law was unlimited liability
for which international companies will find it difficult to get
insurers.
#obama # obamainindia #obamamodi #obamaindousnucleardeal #obamaasiapivot
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