President Obama has had a busy week in New York dealing with U.S. policy concerning Iran and Syria at the United Nations General Assembly. Egypt and the Middle East are likely to emerge as topics further complicating his schedule. Yet it is the visit later in the week in Washington with Prime Minister Singh of India that could be the most important meeting for Obama’s “rebalance to Asia” strategy and presidential legacy for his foreign policy. India is the lynchpin for democracy in South Asia. Its economic recovery can help the U.S. job market, and the U.S.-India strategic partnership proactively promotes the dual goals of non-proliferation and counterterrorism.
India’s stability and success are in the vital interests of the Unites States. Imagine the security and global challenges for America if India’s great democratic promise failed.
While India’s economic situation is far from catastrophic, they are in some serious trouble. GDP growth has dropped precipitously from 9 percent to 4.2 percent. Inflation and currency devaluation are causing severe pain for the poor and middle class. Communal violence has recently broken out between Muslims and Hindus in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh.
Now is the time to build an economic bridge of cooperation and mutual benefit between the largest economy in the world today and the biggest projected economy of 2050. We need a new model to replace the version of globalization that results in lost jobs and outsourcing. India must take the first step by repeating what it did in 1991 and boldly helping itself. They opened up their economy to foreign direct investment, and Dr. Singh was serving as Finance Minister.
The Indian people desperately want improved infrastructure to increase productivity and create jobs. America can assist by selling U.S.-manufactured Deere and Caterpillar equipment; they can provide architectural and engineering expertise; and they can compete for contracts to construct the highways and ports. This could result in a “win-win” scenario for the middle class in the Midwest and in Mumbai. Additionally, the United States and India must negotiate a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Right now, there are far too many hurdles and obstacles to trade on both sides.
India has Preferential Market Access (PMA) issues and does not adequately protect intellectual property rights agreements. The United States needs to modernize their H-1B visa process and not stipulate new mandates on the high technology companies. Both sides need to improve their global travel programs. U.S. and Indian businesses are frustrated that additional trade opportunities in energy, defense, and health care are stalled by bureaucracy and distracted governments.
Building better trade ties can help elevate the poor out of poverty in India and create more middle class jobs for Americans. Still, it is the strategic partnership between us that is truly transformative. India’s tradition of democracy is essential for peace and security in the region. As the United States exits from Afghanistan, is worried about a fragile Pakistan, encourages the peaceful rise of China, presses for a moderate democracy in Bangladesh, and promotes an open and free Myanmar, it is apparent India’s confidence and influence on these concerns will only grow in the future.
In addition, both countries are concerned about piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean and open commerce through the Malacca Straits. A successful terrorist attack in this congested trade lane accounting for 40 percent of the world’s commerce would freeze the global economy. Increasingly, America and India have worked together on counterterrorism and non-proliferation efforts. More of these strategic partnerships will form in the future.
Our respective constitutions begin with the same words: “We The People”. Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings inspired the non-violent civil rights protests of Dr. Martin Luther King. Our common fundamental values of tolerance, diversity, and democracy form strong bonds of affection and mutual global interest. Now we must work toward creating a new economic agenda and social pact for the people of America and India to ensure their social mobility and economic dreams. This truly is a legacy issue for President Obama that combines his foreign policy and domestic policy accomplishments far into the 21st century.
Ambassador Tim Roemer, a former U.S. representative from Indiana, was the U.S. ambassador to India from 2009 to June 2011. He is a senior director and strategic adviser at APCO Worldwide.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks on U.S.-India relations in New Delhi, India on June 23, 2013. State Department photo/Public Domain.
a global affairs media network
U.S.-India Partnership: A Legacy Foreign Policy Issue
September 25, 2013
President Obama has had a busy week in New York dealing with U.S. policy concerning Iran and Syria at the United Nations General Assembly. Egypt and the Middle East are likely to emerge as topics further complicating his schedule. Yet it is the visit later in the week in Washington with Prime Minister Singh of India that could be the most important meeting for Obama’s “rebalance to Asia” strategy and presidential legacy for his foreign policy. India is the lynchpin for democracy in South Asia. Its economic recovery can help the U.S. job market, and the U.S.-India strategic partnership proactively promotes the dual goals of non-proliferation and counterterrorism.
India’s stability and success are in the vital interests of the Unites States. Imagine the security and global challenges for America if India’s great democratic promise failed.
While India’s economic situation is far from catastrophic, they are in some serious trouble. GDP growth has dropped precipitously from 9 percent to 4.2 percent. Inflation and currency devaluation are causing severe pain for the poor and middle class. Communal violence has recently broken out between Muslims and Hindus in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh.
Now is the time to build an economic bridge of cooperation and mutual benefit between the largest economy in the world today and the biggest projected economy of 2050. We need a new model to replace the version of globalization that results in lost jobs and outsourcing. India must take the first step by repeating what it did in 1991 and boldly helping itself. They opened up their economy to foreign direct investment, and Dr. Singh was serving as Finance Minister.
The Indian people desperately want improved infrastructure to increase productivity and create jobs. America can assist by selling U.S.-manufactured Deere and Caterpillar equipment; they can provide architectural and engineering expertise; and they can compete for contracts to construct the highways and ports. This could result in a “win-win” scenario for the middle class in the Midwest and in Mumbai. Additionally, the United States and India must negotiate a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Right now, there are far too many hurdles and obstacles to trade on both sides.
India has Preferential Market Access (PMA) issues and does not adequately protect intellectual property rights agreements. The United States needs to modernize their H-1B visa process and not stipulate new mandates on the high technology companies. Both sides need to improve their global travel programs. U.S. and Indian businesses are frustrated that additional trade opportunities in energy, defense, and health care are stalled by bureaucracy and distracted governments.
Building better trade ties can help elevate the poor out of poverty in India and create more middle class jobs for Americans. Still, it is the strategic partnership between us that is truly transformative. India’s tradition of democracy is essential for peace and security in the region. As the United States exits from Afghanistan, is worried about a fragile Pakistan, encourages the peaceful rise of China, presses for a moderate democracy in Bangladesh, and promotes an open and free Myanmar, it is apparent India’s confidence and influence on these concerns will only grow in the future.
In addition, both countries are concerned about piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean and open commerce through the Malacca Straits. A successful terrorist attack in this congested trade lane accounting for 40 percent of the world’s commerce would freeze the global economy. Increasingly, America and India have worked together on counterterrorism and non-proliferation efforts. More of these strategic partnerships will form in the future.
Our respective constitutions begin with the same words: “We The People”. Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings inspired the non-violent civil rights protests of Dr. Martin Luther King. Our common fundamental values of tolerance, diversity, and democracy form strong bonds of affection and mutual global interest. Now we must work toward creating a new economic agenda and social pact for the people of America and India to ensure their social mobility and economic dreams. This truly is a legacy issue for President Obama that combines his foreign policy and domestic policy accomplishments far into the 21st century.
Ambassador Tim Roemer, a former U.S. representative from Indiana, was the U.S. ambassador to India from 2009 to June 2011. He is a senior director and strategic adviser at APCO Worldwide.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks on U.S.-India relations in New Delhi, India on June 23, 2013. State Department photo/Public Domain.
