By Arun Srivastava 

 

NARENDRA Modi was shunned by the US in 2005. But he is no more a pariah. The same US, but now under the presidency of Joe Biden, is rolling out the red carpet for Modi, who will become just the third world leader (after France’s Emmanuel Macron and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol) to be invited for a state visit and dinner, the highest of diplomatic receptions typically reserved for only the closest of allies. The honour being conferred upon Modi has more implicit meanings than are visible. More than polishing the bilateral relations or strengthening shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and elevate strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy and space, this visit has wider implications for Biden and especially for America. The red carpet for Modi sends a strong message that India will work with US in South East Asia to counter the ‘expansionist vision of China’ and put a check on the ‘Russian obstinacy’.

 

It is worth recalling that India joined Biden’s 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which primarily aims to reduce China’s economic dominance through manufacturing, but without drawing up a formal trade agreement. This was a machination to convince India that in future it does not need to depend on Chinese manufacturing. Experts feel both countries see their strategic interests converge in countering China’s threat, as it becomes more expansionist and ambitious on the global stage. China has emerged as the biggest enemy of US. Washington wants to tell New Delhi that Beijing has not been its friend. A copious analysis of the US approach towards India and China would unravel the fact that it wants to rewrite the Indo-Chinese history by presenting China as the number one enemy of India, followed by Russia. In its endeavour the US digs out the old disputes. It points out how India has been embroiled in territorial disputes in the Himalayas ever since it fought a brief war with China in 1962. After Independence from British rule in 1947, India was more closely aligned with Russia during the Cold War era due to US distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear programme, while the US had a stronger partnership with India’s rival, Pakistan. The Biden administration is using this historical visit of Modi to tell India that a strong US-India partnership is essential to achieving its Indo-Pacific goals—maintaining a free, open, prosperous, resilient Indo-Pacific region. The new relation that Biden intends to build will propel to new growth height. It is because of this that this administration has been willing to overlook some of India’s policies toward Russia. Modi must tell Biden that India was strong enough to defend its own interests.

 

It does not need any third-party support. US valuing India’s partnership does not mean that India should allow US to dictate it. US officials say that the partnership is extremely important for their core national interests and India’s core national interests as well. And that partnership has many dimensions and takes many forms. Though the US administration talks of boosting trade with India, the real motive has been to take India into its fold and let it indulge in proxy fight against China. The NSC Coordinator, John Kirby said that the US supported “India’s emergence as a great power” and was looking to improve and deepen the defence cooperation between India and US. He also said: “This state visit is also not about Russia. And what we’re trying to do with our bilateral relationship with India is improve the bilateral relationship for its own sake and on its own foundation, because it’s that important to us. It’s not about forcing or coercing or trying to convince Prime Minister Modi or the Indian Government to do something different. It’s about focusing on where we are in this relationship and making it more important, more robust, more cooperative going forward”. What prompted Kirby to come out with this statement is really intriguing. At some level it underlines the scepticism that grips the global fraternity about the real intentions of the visit. It is no more a secret that US aims to strengthen ties with India, viewing it as a potential counterweight to China. Nonetheless, Modi’s visit has split America’s Democratic Party ecosystem into two.

 

The section of Democrats which wields considerable influence in media, academia, social sector and the deep state, is nervous about India’s rise and the enthralling welcome to PM Modi which the US Government and the powerful Indian diaspora has planned. The Washington Post’s Editorial Board wrote on Saturday that the case for India as a “bulwark against China” has never been more urgent for Washington. Similarly, on Friday, the Time magazine had cited foreign policy experts as suggesting that Biden’s welcoming of Modi is because of India’s “indispensable role” in American efforts “to deter Chinese aggression”. Meanwhile, Chinese media has slammed the US for “pushing India and ramping up its efforts to harass China’s economic progress”. A section of the Indian diaspora also feels that Biden intends to use Modi’s support in his re-election in 2024. (IPA)