Modi-Obama September Meet: It Takes 2 to Tango
Modi-Obama September Meet: It Takes 2 to Tango
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently accepted the invitation to meet American President Barack Obama in the month of September. Washington is now looking to court India's new government and boost India-US ties after relation froze following the Devyaani Khobragade case. The world's 2 largest democracies also faced a diplomatic impasse over the previous denial of a US visa to Modi during his CM days.
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has issued a written invitation to Modi from Obama, according to a statement issued by the Indian government. The letter from Obama reinforced the previous invitations send to India's PM Modi inviting him to visit the US.
Burns also communicated with prominent news channel NDTV to disclose that US “recognise the very strong mandate that he's won and we have a deep interest and stake in his success, in India's success”. Burns also indicated the meeting with Obama is likely to occur on September 30th.
Modi-led BJP scored a massive electoral victory unlike any other in the past 3 decades in the Indian polity. However, the same majority is now posing pressure on the government to perform. With the new meeting between Modi and Obama, more is needed than just a meeting of minds.
India and the US can really boost and tap the potential of their economic ties if they can get beyond the roadblocks and obstacles. Washington has currently set a strategic goal of expanding the $100 billion annual trade between the two nations by 5 times its current amount.
The Indian government in turn has issued a statement saying the PM is now “looking forward to a result-oriented visit with concrete outcomes that impact new energy to (the) India-US strategic partnership”. An MEA spokesman indicated that the formal invitation by Obama had been accepted by Modi.
Modi was denied a visa in 2005 for travelling to the US following riots in 2002 while he was the Gujarat CM. With the formal invite being issued and accepted, it seems the relations between the 2 nations are moving to a positive state. Obama wants to make bilateral relations between the 2 nations a defining partnership in the 21st century.
The PM is interested in re-energising the relations between the 2 countries to send an important message to the region and beyond, according to reports by a prominent media channel. Modi has also emphasised that the defining partnership between the 2 countries “should emerge as a powerful force of good for peace, stability and prosperity in the world”.
With the latest crisis in Iraq and the renewal of armed conflict between Israel and Palestine during the holy month of Ramadan, it is clear that polarization and ideological conflicts are leading to massive crises and war on a global scale. In such a scenario, India and the US cannot afford to ignore each other due to reasons more than just money. The relations between the world's largest and oldest democracies must improve not only for the economic fortunes of the two nations, but for stability and world peace as well.
