Is a good lobby with the US beneficial for India?
Is a good lobby with the US beneficial for India?
Introduction
While President Obama has euphemistically termed Indo-US relations as the defining partnership of the 21st century, what is emerging as the Devyani Khobragade case escalates is anything but that. India’s national pride has been sullied because one of its diplomats has been subjected to no less than a strip search on foreign soil. US prosecutors are upholding what they see as justice for Sangeeta Richards.
In the middle of this scandal, foreign relations between the two nations have become so sour that it will require serious diplomacy to repair the damage. India’s political scenario is poised to undergo a change soon. This will have complex ramifications for India’s relations with the US. With leading journalists and media observing the strong anti-incumbency wave in India, its implications for Indo-US relations will be manifold. Having a good lobby with the US will certainly be positive for India though. The world is coming closer and strategic partnerships must be formed if key issues like climate change have to be jointly battled.
Viewpoint
• Regardless of which party/parties ascend the political throne this year in India, the new leaders will certainly have their tasks cut out for them, when it comes to building bridges between our country and the US. While some may question the value of this, the fact remains that India should not ignore a key player in the global scenario. The US is a source of trade partnerships and closing the door to a powerful lobby in America can have adverse impact for many Indian business houses. US economy is recovering and they have plenty of funds. If we shut them out, we will lose valuable trade and investment opportunities.
• Indo-US relationship must be strong to ensure the regional stability in South Asia. The war against terrorism is spearheaded by the US and Indian government must not lose the chance to join hands with American forces on this issue. The stability and security of our country is at stake and if we restrict our foreign allies to a chosen few, we would have taken sides in what seems to be the new Cold War.
• A good lobby with the US can also yield rich dividends in fields such as defence and science. The biggest fiasco this year was the unravelling of the civil nuclear deal, from the point of view of the US. India should re-examine its priorities and set the relationship with the US right. Of course, the US must reciprocate in kind. It takes two to tango after all.
• India’s central government following the upcoming elections will also have to view the ramifications of the situation in Afghanistan. Taking an important Indo-US partnership in this area forward should be a priority. The US has the defence capabilities to keep the South Asian region stable. India should capitalize on this.
• With the latest shifts in foreign relations, India should not allow itself to be pigeonholed into a corner. Maintaining friendly relations with other nations is vital if India has to progress forward. India’s leadership must also be able to insulate the country from adverse impacts of foreign financial crises of economic or political nature. A prime example is the neutrality of the Swiss who cleverly use this to gain lucrative economic deals. Even the most corrupt leaders in the world know that their money can be safely stashed in Swiss bank accounts, after all.
Conclusion
What future direction Indo-US relations take will depend on the manner through which scandals and disagreements between the 2 nations are resolved. While a good lobby with the US is beneficial, it should be clear that India is not going to be a doormat in the process. Retaining our national pride while pursuing a good bilateral trade partnership should be the priority. Careful handling of matters is required from both nations, for mutual benefits to be attained for each.
Discussion
- Is a good lobby with the US beneficial for India? -Farhana Afreen (04/02/14)
Is a good lobby with the US beneficial for India?
A good lobby with the US can be beneficial for India since the relations that both the countries share over the year has been good and beneficiary for both. In present times India and the US share a wide-ranging cultural, strategic, military, and economic relationship. If we go by Gallup's annual public opinion polls, India is professed by Americans as their 6th preferred nation in the world, with 72% of Americans viewing India positively in 2011, rising to 75% in 2012.
The recent developments can be seen in the following fields:
• Fast development of India's economy and bilateral trade.
• The proximity between the Indian and American computer and Internet industries.
• A geopolitical alliance to balance the rise of an increasingly aggressive China.
• The abating of U.S.-Pakistan relations over different unending disputes.
• The 2008 turn of venerable American disagreement to India's nuclear program.
These factors contribute to the idea that a good lobby with the US can definitely prove to be beneficiary for India. India rose up to be ever more important to center US foreign policy interests. India is time and again characterized as a budding Great Power and a vital partner of the US, and this is regarded as possible competitor to the growing power of China.
Since the year 2004, Washington and New Delhi have been indulging in a "strategic partnership" that is on common values and commonly shared geopolitical interests. They have together taken up many security and economical measures towards the betterment and development of the nations. The US and India have also signed a ten-year defense framework agreement, with the objective of increasing mutual safety measures collaboration. Both the countries are working on many combined military exercises, and major US arms sales to India have augmented. The assessments of all mutual trade have tripled over the years and continue to grow up. Investments and trade have also grown over the past few years and are expected to augment more with time.
The US happens to be one of India's largest direct investors. From 1991 to 2004, the stock of FDI inflow has improved from USD $11.3 million to $344.4 million, and totalling $4.13 billion. This is a multifaceted rate increase of 57.5 percent per annum. Indian direct investments abroad began more than 20 years back, and Indian corporations and registered partnership firms are now authorized to invest in businesses up to 100 percent of their value. India's largest outgoing investments are in the manufacturing division, which accounts for 54.8 percent of the country's foreign investments. The second largest are in non-financial services, like software development, accounting for 35.4 percent of investments.
With such boost in trade and relations between both the countries, there is no doubt that good lobby with US shall be beneficiary for India.
