Analysts, experts, and the mandarins of administration in both India and the United States will no doubt pore over the documents signed, and the words spoken, during US President Barack Obama’s just-concluded visit to India to extract that little ounce of necessary partisan interpretation that might best serve their national or ideological interest. That is only fair. But the language that came from the American leader in his speech to the Indian Parliament and in the course of his joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday should mute anxieties that under Mr Obama’s leadership the United States would not really seek to advance this country’s interests in our region and the world. The two have now moved to the stage of seeking to concretise a durable partnership that can impact the world. The US President’s speech was a comprehensive summation of our relations so far mixed with a call to rise in concert to the high trajectory India and the US can together aspire to. Nothing comes without conditions. Mr Obama projected his country’s perspectives in this regard. We too have our perspectives on fair conduct between nations. The President did not hesitate to mention Iran in the context of nuclear weapons proliferation, or the actions of the Burmese military dictatorship in suppressing human rights and democratic freedoms in that country. He all but urged India to move in step with the US in dealing with these countries of our region. We, of course, must be clear that we will need to exercise our own judgment in weighing actions that impact our neighbours.
No one in this country or in the United States would have bet before the Obama visit that the President would endorse India’s call for reforming the United Nations Security Council in line with the realities of today’s world, and support its ambition to find a place in that body as a permanent member. By doing so without ambiguity, he has surprised us all. This is a moment almost akin to that in July 2005 when then President George W. Bush signed — casting off an earlier paradigm of politics that had reigned for two generations — an agreement with this country to collaborate on civil nuclear cooperation although we had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and in doing so changed key rules of the international game for transactions in the field of nuclear commerce. Mr Obama has also proceeded to lift export restrictions against India, and take it off the so-called US “entities list”, in order to facilitate the transfer of high-tech, dual-use equipment, a longstanding Indian demand. As Mr Obama noted, this brings India in the same category as some of America’s closest allies. The US leader did not fail to mention that with his visit had commenced the implementation of the civil nuclear agreement inked five years ago. All of these steps would go to enable India and enhance its comprehensive power.
Mr Obama was explicit in saying that “terrorist safe havens” within Pakistan’s borders were “unacceptable”. This is not a game changer and we need to summon our own energies in coping with certain fundamental problems. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has done well to point out that ceaseless export of terrorism against this country cannot make for a meaningful dialogue. The US leader also offered India consultation partner status in East Asian affairs, Afghanistan and Africa. Too much should not be read into this, but it is evident that India’s special interest in Afghanistan has been recognised, even if this displeases Islamabad. All in all, Mr Obama’s visit widens the track of India-US relations and helps in its consolidation.