Hillary reassures India: Relationship is a priority.
A few days ago I wondered aloud if the Obama Administration was tilting in favor of China at the expense of our relationship with India.
There were indications, some said, that the U.S. had designs on the world stage in which India would play a secondary role. I ended my comments by suggesting the Hillary’s trip to India would answer the question: was the U.S. dumping India for Beijing? The trip has answered the question — at least partially.
In response to a reporter’s question during a joint appearance with her Indian counterpart, Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna, Madam Secretary reassured India that our two countries have a special bond because we are both democracies. At the same time, she emphasized that U.S. foreign policy is global in nature. We have vital interests and issues to discuss with both China and Pakistan (another historical Indian rival).
While India seems profoundly snippy about any hint of American “meddling” in their affairs — carbon emissions and nuclear exports being two especially sensitive areas — the question posed to Hillary suggests a continuing, underlying sense of national inferiority and insecurity.
Here’s an excerpt from yesterday’s appearance –
QUESTION: Yeah. First up, I wanted to ask you, ma’am, that as far as Bush Administration was concerned and now the new Obama Administration is concerned, we have seen that there is a sense of feeling that this new Administration is more concerned and inclined toward deepening the relationship with Pakistan and – China and Pakistan. What are your comments on that?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, my comments – if I don’t choke – are that we have demonstrated very clearly the significance and importance of our relationship with India. We entered into this relationship to broaden and deepen it as partners already on the world stage. And what we have outlined today will be a significant expansion of our bilateral relationship. We also have a very important set of issues that we are pursuing with Pakistan, with China, and with many other countries around the world.
But I don’t think you can understate the significance of our relationship as two democracies. We understand the difficulties of decision making in democracies. And we respect the vibrancy of each other’s democracy. That is a much stronger base for a relationship than any other in the world, because it is democracies that are able to expand an understanding of common interests and show mutual respect, and that is what is at the core of our broadening relationship between us.
So yes, of course, we have relations with other countries. The United States is called upon to act globally every single hour of every single day. But as the invitation to Prime Minister Singh’s first state visit in the Obama Administration demonstrates, we are very committed to this relationship.
Is Hillary dumping Delhi for Beijing?
With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about to embark on a seven-day trip to India and Thailand, there is some speculation that the Delhi visit is only for show, a trip “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” as one blogger described it.
According to a State Department press release, Hillary “will meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and with External Affairs Minister Krishna. The Secretary and Minister Krishna will discuss the structure and elements of an enhanced U.S.-India strategic partnership that will enable us to advance solutions to the defining challenges of our time and to enhance global prosperity and stability in the 21st century. ”
While that sounds impressive enough, not everyone is convinced that the U.S – India “strategic partnership” is more than a U.S. ploy to get non-aligned India to purchase near-obsolete American fighters.
The US-Bharti (India) relationship is on the decline and Delhi knows this. Delhi has been sacrificed on the alter of the Sino-American relationship. Even so both countries will be putting a good face on the short lived friendship. There will be a lot of smiles, and a plenty of photo-ops. There will be huge references to the Nuclear deal and a lot of talking about the sale of stripped down versions of discarded US planes–in essence a lot of fluff and no substance.
According to the Rupee News, evidence that U.S. – India relations are on the decline includes:
1) The US “dumped” India at the G-8 summit by imposing severe restriction on the export of nuclear material to countries that have not signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.
2) Hillary’s first trip was to China and did not include a visit to India.
3) The U.S. no longer sees India as a counterweight to China. Many believe that Hillary is the architect of a much closer relationship with Beijing.
4) Although India is still upset about the attack at Mumbai, “the rest of the world has taken a big yawn on the subject.”
5) The US has tripled its aid package to Pakistan, India’s rival in the region.
All this conjecture about “dumping Delhi,” of course, must be seen in the context of Hillary’s long-standing pro-India sentiments. Calling India “Hillary Clinton’s Darling,” think-tank director and blogger Dr. A. Prabaharan believes that no one is better suited to take U.S. – India relations to “the next level.”
In the last 62 years of India-US relations, no US secretary of state had credentials anywhere comparable to Hillary Clinton’s in the matter of promoting the bilateral partnership. As senator, she co-founded and co-chaired the India caucus. She has visited India more than once. She has a constituency among Indian-Americans, most of whom supported, electorally and financially, her candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
According to Dr. Prabaharan, Hillary’s visit will “help build stage III of the relationship, with India as a key partner helping America shape the 21st century. The earlier two stages were, according to her, the Cold War years and the post-Cold War period up to the end of the Bush administration and the India-US nuclear deal. She proposes to build ties on four natural platforms: global security, human development, economic activity and science and technology.”
In a few days we will have a better sense of who is right in this argument: the “dumping Delhi” faction or the “Hillary’s Darling” group.
Stay tuned.
