Round The World

New Delhi, 7 September 2010

Antony’s S Korea Visit

WIN-WIN SCENARIO FOR BOTH

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies (JNU)

India’s increasing and strengthened ties with a major East Asian economic power like South Korea assumes vitality in view of New Delhi’s global and regional ambitions. True, India-China ties have smoothened over the years but major differences over boundary and Beijing’s close relationship with Pakistan often hinders the growth of ties. Having fought a war over the disputed border, the two continue to spar for regional influence and competition is inevitable. In view of this scenario, India’s deepening ties with active democracies and major economies in East Asia, such as Japan and South Korea acquire importance.

Since the liberalization of the Indian economy and the proposition of India’s ‘Look East Policy’ in the early 90s, policymakers in New Delhi have increasingly tried to tighten and expand relations with the East Asian countries. South Korea is a major and dynamic economy with which India has deliberately increased the frequency and the depth of its relationship. New Delhi’s ties with Seoul have especially galloped since the South Korea President Lee Myung-bak visited India as Chief Guest at the Republic Day Celebrations this year.

The intensity of the relationship can be gauged from the kind of ties the two countries have in the defence sector and the reciprocity that both show towards each other’s concerns in the security field. Indeed, India and South Korea have amply magnified the confidence present in the relationship with the warm reception to Defence Minister AK Antony whose meeting with the top echelons of Seoul’s political hierarchy significantly demonstrated the importance New Delhi gives to the burgeoning defence ties.

The ties with South Korea are founded on goodwill between the two countries and the democratic and economic credentials of both. As such, the ties are interwoven across different sectors and are long-term in nature. Top level visits besides being high on rhetoric and symbolism are real integral parts of the machinery that keeps relationships thriving and in motion, preventing stagnancy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be in Seoul this November for the G-20 Summit. This would give enough chance to build on the excellent momentum.

During Antony’s visit, India-South Korea took some major strides as they signed two landmark Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs). Since the visit of the Korean President to India this year, there has been a concerted effort to take relations to the strategic level and the ambitious vision in defence sector is an inevitable component. The two MoUs were signed in the presence of the Defence Minister and his South Korean counterpart.

The first MoU envisions an exchange of defence-related experience and information, a mutual exchange of visits by military personnel and experts, including civilian staff associated with the defence services, military education and training, the conduct of military exercises, and an exchange of visits of ships and aircraft, as jointly decided between the two countries. It also aims to promote cooperation in humanitarian assistance and international peace-keeping activities, and will remain valid for five years with a provision for extension for five more years.

The Second MoU signed by DRDO’s  Chief Controller of Research and Development and the Vice Commissioner, Defence Acquisition and Procurement Agency (DAPA) of South Korea will try and identify futuristic defence technology areas of mutual interest and pursuing of research and development works in both countries. Co- development and co-production of defence products with Indian industry through the DRDO are also envisioned.

According to sources, there will be joint IPR on all the products developed through this mechanism. Some areas of immediate interest e.g., marine systems, electronics and intelligent systems have been identified as priority tasks. A lot of positive energy has been generated by this not so publicized visit but one high on content and seriousness.

"New Delhi will be happy to see the defence industry relationship to be more than a buyer-seller relationship and its further evolution into transfer of technology, joint production and joint research and development," said Antony. "The two MoUs signed today will provide a win-win scenario for the two countries in a number of areas," added his Korean counterpart.

Covering security issues of global and regional importance, the talks also focused on cooperation in ensuring maritime security and increasing engagements between the navies of both countries for the safety and security of the vital sea lanes in the region. Antony also dwelt on India’s policy to keep good relations in its neighbourhood so that time and energy could be given to developmental needs.

The Defence Minister also called on the South Korean President and both were upbeat about the “sharp upward trajectory” that India-South Korea ties had gained in recent times.  The Korean President has been a strong advocate of taking the ties to the strategic level and the results have been more than visible in a very short time. According to reports, discussions were also held on issues like anti-piracy and disaster relief and a host of other areas for taking the ties forward. A major initiative towards cooperation in the field of science and technology was made during the visit of the Korean President to India.

Besides, one of the highlights of this buoyant relationship has been the exploration and prospects regarding cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy field. South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is one of the leaders in the field of producing atomic energy. KEPCO's entry into the Indian nuclear energy market would increase New Delhi's access to clean nuclear energy with reliable, efficient safety features, something vital for India which has come out of isolation after the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) waiver. With nuclear energy being recognized as a clean alternative, deliberations on this matter are critical in taking the ties to the next level.

As a rising power in the region with increasing influence in important areas of global power structure, New Delhi has been intent on increasing its zone of influence. The trajectory of India's diplomacy in recent years has given ample examples of its inherent need and ambition to channelize regular and effective diplomatic relations with different countries. As a result of the increasing inter-dependence created by the globalized world, it is important for rising economies like India to increase its webs of linkages with thriving Asian economies like South Korea.

The common thread of democracy is an added advantage to the relationship. The vision vis-à-vis active cooperation in the defence sector is symptomatic of the increasing confidence in each other and is a sign of a robust relationship ahead. Clearly, the future looks bright for New Delhi and Seoul but the engagement needs to be sustained and linkages need to be increased so that shock absorbers are well in place if any differences do crop up. ---- INFA

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