For Dr Rajiv Kumar the three pillars of India-US relations are P to P; G to G; and B to B .
New Delhi
Speaking at a recent Indo American Friendship Association (IAFA) panel discussion on India-US relations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to USA at India Habitat Centre, Amb. Surendra kumar mentioned three significant takeaways. Deepening of trust and confidence of the US to a level that it feels comfortable to share sensitive technology with India though it isn’t an ally. The US can now understand the raison d’état of India’s decisions on certain issues such as the Ukraine crises and stop pressuring India to fall in line; it has learnt to live with differences and not let them rock the broader strategic partnership with India; it is a tacit acceptance of India’s strategic autonomy. Questions will continue to be raised from certain constituencies, including elements in the State Department, about India’s democracy and the state of religious and press freedom in India, but the Biden administration has decided to go along with the claim of the Indian government in this regard and not let these issues vitiate India-US relationship; Biden’s cryptic response at a joint press conference that democracy was in the DNA of the US and India seemed to have silenced this issue, at least, for the time being.
According to Arvind Kumar, Professor of US studies at the JNU, the journey of India-US relations from technology denial to technology sharing signifies coming of age. Late PM Rajiv Gandhi had conveyed India’s interest in America’s technology, including joint manufacturing of cryogenic engine to President Reagan but, that time, there were no takers of India’s proposals. For the Civil Nuclear Agreement, President Bush and his administration did a lot of heavy lifting for getting American laws changed and an exception made for India, but regrettably the agreement hasn’t resulted in any spike in the generation of nuclear energy for lack of the follow up action and India’s failure to join the NSG. He sees bright prospects for India and the US for collaboration in outer space, including in India’s Mars mission and satellite launches; in coming years, the world might witness the launch of 30,000 satellites; ISRO and the NASA can possibly collaborate. Kumar feels, the manufacturing of GE F 414 jet engine, and chips and semiconductors will not only result in transfer of technology, but also in the development of infrastructure and boost India’s self-reliance endeavours and create a win-win situation for both India and the US.
Gen Deepak Kapoor, former Chief of the Army Staff, strongly believes that protecting national security is every nation’s sacred responsibility. And a country’s national interest dictates its domestic and external policies, military interest included. He feels, India’s strategic autonomy offers a lot of choices for the conduct of the foreign policy and decisions at the military level. “We must keep abreast of the global digital advancement for our defense preparedness. Though there is a huge gap in American and Indian defence capabilities, there are good prospects for the two countries for developing a strong defence partnership which will not be one-way traffic; India too will be able to contribute something to the US.”
China’s official defence budget is three-and-half-times larger than of India, it’s high time India enhances its defence budget, especially as a two-front conflict with the expansionist China and failing Pakistan can’t be ruled out. Thanks to our infrastructure and military preparedness at the LAC and the strong stand we took, we have, so far, been able to keep China at bay. But the Pakistani establishment is capable of turning domestic turmoil into an anti-India rhetoric.
Modi’s visit has given a fillip to India-US defence cooperation. Transfer of technology from the US should spur our efforts to be Atmanirbhar and also become net exporters of weapons. The Civil Nuclear deal and the Fourth Foundational agreement signed by India and USA haven’t produced desired results for lack of follow up action. So, the agreement signed for joint manufacturing GE jet engines, import of MQ 9 B drone and manufacturing of semiconductors need to be followed up. “For close defence cooperation, we need a common strategy, constant interaction between the Defence establishment in India and the US and joint operations at tactical level. India should rope in other countries of Indo-Pacific region to engage in constant interaction and operations at tactical level to acquire interoperability.” India’s Air Force exercise Param Shakti which involves 12 nations including the UK, USA, and Australia offers valuable experience in interoperability. “PM Modi’s visit is an essential first step for closer military ties which take a long time to develop. And as we come closer militarily, we will have to reconcile two defence philosophies, one Russian and the other American.”
Introduction of new weapons, drawing a strategy and operate them in actual war zone requires a decade or more. Obviously, India has a lot to catch up but we are on the right track. Amb. Meera Shankar, former Ambassador to USA, looks at the visit from three perspectives. It was very high in symbolism; the US removed all stops to show pomp and pageantry in extending a warm welcome to PM Modi. The private dinner and second address of the joint session of the US Congress, first for an Indian, were gestures that went beyond a State visit. But it was very substantive and broad-based too. The US seems to have overcome its earlier hesitation to share technology. The Framework of initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies can lead to technological cooperation in a vast range of areas involving not only the industries but also educational institutions, colleges, research institutes and start- ups to come up with new ideas and technologies in the field of AI, Quantum computing, semiconductors, chips, etc.
The rich and influential diaspora in US, which includes many CEOs of top ICT companies like Microsoft and Google, exercises a positive influence on India-US relations and the US leadership takes note of PM’s immense popularity among the diaspora.
For Dr Rajiv Kumar, former Vice Chairman of the Niti Aayog, there are three pillars of India-US relations: P to P (people to people relations) which are great; G to G (govt to govt relations) which have witnessed upswing since the Clinton presidency and B to B relations which have huge potential to grow. He advises setting up a Task Force to quadruple India-US trade in five years and an Inter-ministerial Silo Busting Mission to remove bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles to boost business. He feels Indian Industry will benefit from greater foreign competition. The MoUs and agreements signed can boost India-US relations, but India must seize this opportune moment and make the best of it. The ball is entirely in our court.