The outgoing US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster has recently reiterated the close cooperation between India and the US. But he has also expressed indirect concern over greater emphasis on 'self-reliance' in India and military cooperation with Russia.
Kenneth Juster also referred to mutual "tension and frustration" over Indo-American trade relations and investment matters. It is also said to be important because recently the "Congressional Research Service" of the US Congress mentioned this in its report.
According to this report, "During the Trump administration, mutual tension between the two countries increased about trade regulations and India kept increasing the import rate, especially in the fields of agriculture and telecommunications."
This CRS report warned that "India's billions of dollars to buy S-400 air defense systems made in Russia led to restrictions on India under the US 'Counting Americans Advisory Through Sanctions Act' (CAATSA)." Can. "
However, outgoing US Ambassador Juster also asserted, "We do not take action on friends under CAATSA."
Why the discomfort?
The question that arises is whether the Indian 'speed' in the purchase of weapons and especially the purchase of air defense system from Russia has increased America's restlessness?
Suhasini Haider, editor of diplomatic affairs in The Hindu newspaper, says, "The Indian decision to take the S-400 from Russia has been consistently opposed by the US. India expects that there will be no ban." It is also that all this happened when in 2018 the US gave India "STA-1" status for strategic trade, which has been given to the closest allies. "
It is clear from the talk of the outgoing US ambassador that the claims of 'better relations' have been made, perhaps slightly different from the reality.
According to Manish, a professor of international relations at the Central University of Gujarat, "The reason for the distance between the two countries in the Trump administration was the excessive focus on the US itself. The increased tariff rates were a big reason, despite Narendra Modi and Donald Trump The relationship was good. The other reason was America's strictness on the H-1B visa, which had a huge impact on Indian IT companies. Relations with Iran and Pakistan were also a big reason for toughness. "
Of course, this statement of the outgoing US ambassador will also be seen in connection with Russia-India relations, in which he said, "I believe that no other country has as strong a defense and counter-terrorism relationship with India as it is America has been. No other country does so much to contribute to the safety of Indians and India. "
Concern for self-sufficient India and America
Tensions in relations between China and India, and at the same time, the central government's emphasis on "self-sufficient India" and "make in India", Kenneth Juster said, "Americans and some other companies are having trouble with China. India has a strategic opportunity to become a second option. But to fulfill it, the Indian government will have to take more steps. "
Professor Manish says, "Given the current global equations, this is a golden opportunity for India to increase self-sufficiency by increasing technical cooperation and investment with the US."
He told, "In 2020 itself, the top companies of the US, Amazon, Facebook, and Google have invested $ 17 billion in India, which will play a pivotal role in the relationship between the two countries. Because of recent developments, many companies in the world have shown intention to leave China and come to India, and for this, India will have to create favorable conditions for its investment. "
When it comes to business, America is making India's largest trading partner for the second consecutive financial year.
According to the statistics of the Indian Commerce Ministry, bilateral trade between the US and India was $ 88.75 billion in 2019-20, compared to $ 87.96 billion in the previous year ie 2018-19.
Suhasini Haider says, "Be it strategic or anti-extremist, the current relationship between the two countries is better these days than ever before and the same is true for commerce and energy."
But she also emphasizes this and says, "Ambassador Juster made it clear that the distance still exists. She did speak of Indo-US cooperation on tensions with China, but her words show That America wants India to openly speak at the risk of China. "
Kashish Perpiani, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and an expert on Indo-American relations, wrote in a research paper titled "Understanding India-US Trade Tensions Beyond Trade Imbalances", "India's largest joint military exercises in the past have been with the United States. , While at the same time there was tension on trade rates. Therefore, the business and strategic relationship between the two are of a different type. "
Although Kenneth Juster's tenure was during the time of the Republican government of America and Donald Trump's, his statement on "Make in India" may not have pleased the Indian government and its foreign policy at all.
According to Juster, "While India is looking to become a major exporter in the world, the over-reliance on Make in India can increase prices for Indian consumers in the process of becoming fully involved in the trade rules."
However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to Ambassador Juster's statement and it is expected that due to his exit, it is difficult to come.
Look at the Biden government
All eyes will now be on the new Biden government in the United States, and experts feel that the Indian authorities have given a lot of hope to Biden's new administration, especially because many biggies with Clinton and Obama's Democratic governments before. There have been agreements.
According to Suhasini Haider, who has been covering Indo-American relations for a long time, "These are just bookish things and it has to be seen how much the Biden administration will take on India on big issues. I think the US will also take its own The focus will shift towards Russia and at the same time focus more on issues like democracy and human rights than the US Trump administration. If there are comments from the US on issues like Kashmir, citizenship amendment law, or 'love-jihad', then the distance in both countries. May also increase. "
On the other hand, Professor Manish of International Associations at Central University of Gujarat felt that the path of Biden is not easy.
He explained, "They are going to command an America where the challenges of health, economic and racial discrimination are mounting. Their administration will want to improve relations with India, including India's permanent membership in the United Nations, More cooperation and trade may be the priority in climate change. The question of India between China and US relations, it is not possible to make any major change in US policy regarding China. "
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