Climate change is one of the key issues on the table for discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Barack Obama during the latter’s ongoing visit to New Delhi. It is expected that before the US President flies back, an announcement will be made that efforts are on to work together to combat climate change ahead of key global talks on the issue that will be held in Paris later this year. While that’s good news, there is already a noticeable change in the climate in talks and relations between India and the USA.
There was a warmth in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan where Obama was given a ceremonial welcome that is not always associated or visible with visiting US presidents. The Indian Prime Minister and the US President embraced and patted each other’s backs like old friends, even taking a walk together on the lawns of Hyderabad House where an understanding on the civil nuclear deal was arrived at. Later in the evening, Modi described the India-US friendship as ‘transformed relationships’ and Obama spoke a few words in Hindi.
This new relationship has the world’s eyes on it for it has the potential to make its mark in world affairs. Never the best of friends or allies, this is turning out to be an opportunity for India and the US to find that common ground that will cement ties and take the partnership forward. Both nations appear to be eager to take the relationship forward and that is what is making this visit of the US President to India so important.
This actually is a continuation of the friendship between the two leaders that began in September 2014 when Modi and Obama penned a joint editorial for Washington Post. Now, they will have a joint radio programme in India. These indeed are signs that India-US ties are taking a new turn.
The civil nuclear deal that has found favour with both countries is a bilateral matter. India and the United States had signed a civilian nuclear deal in 2008 but India’s reluctance to pass a law that would, in the event of a nuclear accident shield suppliers from liability was holding up trade.
Other trade and economic ties between the two countries may not get much world attention. One thing of much interest to India is Obama’s stand on outsourcing of jobs. In the past he has frowned on outsourcing but, if economic ties between the two countries are to be strengthened, it is not just in the exchange of goods through import and export that will make it happen, but in outsourcing of jobs and the back office operations of US companies to India. Obama has to come clear on where he stands on this and allow the companies to decide for themselves whether they are comfortable on outsourcing to India. There is a growing industry in India that has emerged from the outsourcing of US jobs. Its continuance will help cement business ties between the two countries.
These bilateral issues aside, it is in climate change that US can get India to fall in line. India is the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide but is yet to commit to a peak year for emissions. US and China which are ahead of it in the list of carbon emitters already have made that commitment. There will be interest in how US tackles India on this issue.
But the US and India together can play a larger role in the world affairs and this has the potential of making them natural allies.
If US is committed to fighting terror, so too is India. India has been hit by constant terror attacks and could do with some help from the US in its fight against terror. A sliver of hope came the way of New Delhi even before Obama could begin his India visit. A couple of days before flying to India Obama said that ‘safe havens within Pakistan are not acceptable and that those behind the Mumbai terror attacks must face justice’. That gives India the opportunity to present to the US evidence it has of cross-border terrorism. What India needs, beyond statements, handshakes and back patting, is cooperation and sharing of intelligence. That will truly take ties between the two nations forward.
