Round The World

New Delhi, 10 November 2010

Second Obama-Singh Summit

LITMUS TEST OF STRATEGIC TIES

By Dr. Chintamani Mahapatra

Professor of American Studies, SIS, JNU

In about a year’s time, US President Barrack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh held a second summit aimed at carrying forward the “strategic partnership” to new heights between the two countries.

Barrack Obama visiting India during his first term in office broke a record of all his predecessors. A year earlier he did the same by inviting Prime Minister Singh as the first foreign Head of Government to the White House. These symbolisms indicate the inner will of President Obama to upgrade, what he repeatedly mentions, the “defining relationship” of the 21st Century.

This new partnership between the strongest and the oldest democracy — the United States and the largest and the fastest rising democracy was initially shaped by the efforts of two earlier American Presidents — Bill Clinton and George Bush and two Indian Prime Ministers ---  Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. That these four leaders belong to different political parties in their respective countries vividly testify that Indo-US strategic partnership has broad bipartisan support in both the countries.

While the main edifice of the strategic partnership was constructed during 2000-08, the structure remained incomplete when President Obama landed in Mumbai on 6 November. In fact, the skepticism surrounding the future of Indo-US strategic partnership emerged ever since the election of Obama as the American President and persisted until he won the hearts of millions of Indians through his address in the Central hall of the Parliament.

Several meetings between President Obama and Prime Minister Singh on the sidelines of international conferences had done little to erase the impressions of Indian and American skeptics. While the expectations were really high when Obama invited Singh to be his Administration’s first state guest, but the summit delivered little in substance. The joint press conference was lack-luster and the statements by the two leaders were high on symbolism and low on substance.

Foreign policy analysts in both countries soon became aware that the Obama Administration paid inadequate attention to the country’s relations with India. There were concerns in both nations that the new edifice of bilateral strategic partnership faced the danger of becoming part of history with no bright future.

Statements from Washington on Kashmir issued periodically produced bilateral tension; steps to implement the 123 Agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation moved at snail’s pace; rhetoric on NPT and CTBT created occasional apprehensions in India; differences over the Doha Round of trade negotiations and environmental issues became more pronounced.

In addition, counter-terrorism cooperation faced road blocs due to the Headley episode and the Obama Administration’s Af-Pak policy did little to make New Delhi comfortable about Washington’s South Asian strategy.

On the trade and investment front too, the US-India cooperation during the Obama Administration did not provide any bright picture. While throughout the Cold War era the US remained the largest trading partner of India and brought maximum foreign direct investment to India, in recent years China replaced the US as India’s largest trading partner. The US share of India’s total exports has almost halved! Moreover, the US has ceased to be the largest foreign investor in India and now has been relegated to the third position.

The story does not end here. The American economic downturn and the importunate recession induced President Obama to adopt protectionist measures that pinched Indian companies and workers right on their noses.

Against the backdrop of all these developments, Obama’s trip created little enthusiasm or excitement in India, of course, until after he landed in the finance Capital of our country. Once in India the US President unleashed his charm offensive that slowly pleased perhaps the entire nation in a span of a mere three days.

He inter-acted with school and college children; business community; victims of the 26/11 terror attacks; Indian MPs and, of course, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Cabinet Ministers. By signing about 20 deals worth $10 billion dollars, Obama created more than 50, 000 job opportunities in his country.

Importantly, by pronouncing his opposition to Pakistan-linked terrorist activities in India and promising more cooperation in homeland security he instilled a sense of security in the minds of millions of Indians. By extending American support to Indian membership in technology denial regimes, such as NSG, Australia Group, Wassenar Arrangement and MTCR, he pleased the Indian security establishment.

In addition, by promising to lift sanctions from Indian R & D organizations, such as ISRO, DRDO and BDL, Obama enormously delighted the Indian scientists who suffered a great deal due to lack of advanced equipment and materials for higher scientific research.

As a result of the Singh-Obama summit, high technology trade between India and the US now promises to benefit both the parties. At a time, when the US is struggling hard to come to terms with persistent recession, it would profit a great deal by selling high technology items to India. Our leaders and high officials have been seeking duel use high technology from the US for decades to increase the momentum of India’s military modernization and industrial growth. Now this seems feasible.

Last but not the least, President Obama pleased every Indian heart by recognizing the new status of the country as a world power and by extending support to India’s inclusion in an expanded UN Security Council in the future.

Clearly, the Obama visit will go down in history as a memorable three days of optimism and fellowship in the history of relations between the two countries. Both our Prime Minister and the American President agree on the needs to play ball together to maintain peace and stability, not only in South Asia but also in Asia and the world at large.

True, President George Bush’s contribution to cementing a strategic partnership with India is memorable contribution for India. But Obama has moved quite a few steps ahead in an effort to give the ties a stronger footing and concrete shape.

However, when sober analysis would be made in the near future, it will be clear that while putting into action promises made during the second Singh-Obama summit, hurdles and road blocks will certainly arise. The next step would be removal of the future hurdles. ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)