07-25-2009, 05:46 AM
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Indo-US cooperation</b>
Published: July 22, 2009
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton signed two cooperation agreements with India on Monday, at the beginning of the New Delhi leg of her Indian visit, which would allow her to claim that her visit has been a success for corporate America. However, the agreements are likely to set off an arms race in the Subcontinent, and that cannot serve American national interests, especially as the other runner in the race will be Pakistan, distracted from the USA's War on Terror in which it has so far been a resolute ally. Ms Clinton signed an 'end-use' agreement which US law requires to permit any military sales to another country, as well as an agreement on sites for American nuclear power companies.
The first agreement removes another hurdle in the sale of a US fighter to India, which plans on buying 125 in coming years. This would provoke Pakistan, which has so far relied on the USA to supply its air needs, but in this case, it would turn to one of the unsuccessful competitors, and if they happen not to be American, that has happened before. The second agreement represents for India the first fruit of its civilian nuclear deal with the USA, and will result in Pakistan increasing activity to secure such a deal, probably from France, which has offered such a deal, or China, a tested ally with which it already has engaged in some civilian nuclear cooperation.
This visit by Ms Clinton, in which she also carried an invitation for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to be the first foreign head of government to visit President Barack Obama, was meant to cement the growing of US ties with India, which it has nominated in effect as its bulwark against China. Ms Clinton's agreement with Indian Foreign Minister Krishnan to institutionalize a strategic dialogue meeting, at the foreign-minister level, is another sign of this, apart from the agreements also made. However, as US engagement with India continues, and as it is sucked into the disputes India has with all its neighbours, it will realize the harm it is doing to its own national interests.
Indo-US cooperation</b>
Published: July 22, 2009
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton signed two cooperation agreements with India on Monday, at the beginning of the New Delhi leg of her Indian visit, which would allow her to claim that her visit has been a success for corporate America. However, the agreements are likely to set off an arms race in the Subcontinent, and that cannot serve American national interests, especially as the other runner in the race will be Pakistan, distracted from the USA's War on Terror in which it has so far been a resolute ally. Ms Clinton signed an 'end-use' agreement which US law requires to permit any military sales to another country, as well as an agreement on sites for American nuclear power companies.
The first agreement removes another hurdle in the sale of a US fighter to India, which plans on buying 125 in coming years. This would provoke Pakistan, which has so far relied on the USA to supply its air needs, but in this case, it would turn to one of the unsuccessful competitors, and if they happen not to be American, that has happened before. The second agreement represents for India the first fruit of its civilian nuclear deal with the USA, and will result in Pakistan increasing activity to secure such a deal, probably from France, which has offered such a deal, or China, a tested ally with which it already has engaged in some civilian nuclear cooperation.
This visit by Ms Clinton, in which she also carried an invitation for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to be the first foreign head of government to visit President Barack Obama, was meant to cement the growing of US ties with India, which it has nominated in effect as its bulwark against China. Ms Clinton's agreement with Indian Foreign Minister Krishnan to institutionalize a strategic dialogue meeting, at the foreign-minister level, is another sign of this, apart from the agreements also made. However, as US engagement with India continues, and as it is sucked into the disputes India has with all its neighbours, it will realize the harm it is doing to its own national interests.