How to strengthen relations with America, why it is important for India

Pranab Dhal Samanta

America And the political climate in India today is the result of the changes that have taken place in the last decade. The two came together after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to combat Islamic terrorism, and today they are together to face the most important challenge in the form of China. The conflict ranges from border disputes to battles for technological supremacy. The circumstances in which the relationship between the two countries has changed is also important. But it must also be acknowledged that despite the progress made in the relations between the two countries, the old thinking and hindrances of bureaucracy remain.

Bet on China: Even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, India and America remained distant from each other. As the sole super power, the US bet on China in the 1990s. Which was economically integrated, but where there was no democracy. Where the dictatorship of the Communist Party used to run. During that period, China did not force allies like Pakistan to stop terrorism, which was using them to spread unrest in India. China also strengthened relations with those countries, which America calls ‘rogue countries’. He helped North Korea and Pakistan to make nuclear weapons. On the other hand, India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 and the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001 brought the two sides closer after the Cold War.

Hindrance of Bureaucracy: In the 2000s, there was a real initiative regarding strategic relations between India and America. The US-India civil nuclear deal of 2008 was a major achievement of that effort. This forced the bureaucrats to change their attitude, but the challenges from their side did not end. The bureaucracy created hurdles by raising civil nuclear liability law and other technical issues. That is why cooperation between the two in the fields of nuclear and technology could not increase.

new era: For the first time since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, India embraced a stronger relationship with the US politically. During this period, there was a balance in the relations between the two countries. America had realized that China was standing against it. It is no longer the lone super power of the 1990s and 2000s. America had a misconception about China that economic prosperity would lead it to the path of democracy.

This justified his attitude towards partners like India. Today America knows what it should expect from India. America also knows that for a new alliance regarding geopolitics, it will have to take care of the interests of the allied countries as well. Like, India’s dependence on Russia for weapons. India and America are understanding how important cooperation in the defense sector is because it is going to have an impact on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, where China is very aggressive.

Key Areas: Today both countries need to work together to enhance cooperation:

• The US made India a major defense partner through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016. But in the Arms Export Control Act of the US State Department, India was not given equality like Australia and Japan.
• This delays the technology transfer process for things like the GE fighter jet engine.
• At the same time, India, on its part, will have to act on assurances to protect American intellectual property rights.
• In a world divided into two technological forces like America and China, India will go with America. That is, coordination with America is necessary in 5G, 6G and AI as soon as possible.

PM Modi is going on a state visit to America next month. In such a situation, it should see what India can offer on its part to get closer to America from a strategic point of view. Along with this, efforts should be made to connect America more strongly with the Indian economy. After all, it was because of America’s economic cooperation that China became a major economic power in the last two decades.