Our Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States of America from June 21-24 is to be understood not only in the light of easing and strengthening relationship between the two countries, but also in the context of today’s geopolitics. We have to quickly scan atleast few points of today’s world order
It is true that today’s world is functioning as two camps. A group of capitalist countries under the leadership of USA designated as developed world is one faction in this conflict. They are acting as a team with their own development model. They generally call themselves “Democracies.”
On the contrary, China has established itself in the international arena to uphold socialism and carry on socialist construction of society. More than 175 countries established diplomatic relations with China and most of them have cordial relations with it. Strangely, many countries from the capitalist camp who vocally contradict China’s objectives and policies also have relations with China, and the United States is no exception.
The countries of the capitalist bloc trade with China at various levels, according to their own needs, have strong economic ties with China. In political relations, they exhibit hostility with China. Although it acts a group, we can not assume that the capitalist alliance is in absolute unity.They have many differences of opinion and conflict of internal contradictions. It is embedded in their nature to blame and discredit China at every moment and for every problem, at any corner in the world. They point out China for all their economic problems and try to tarnish the image and influence of China as much as possible.Their hostility or passive relations or business relations with China are determined by a myriad of situations and combating shades of opinion.They always nurture a feeling of hatred towards China among their people. People are confused of the situation and they question to why their countries trade with China in the context of their economy facing so many problems due to China.(i.e. Xi Jinping and CPC), “when we think China is a big threat to the world, why do we trade with them? What is the use of trade with China when it is because of our investments that china has gained strength? Why can’t we travel our own way decoupled from China?” The people are also asking another question”Why other countries including our allies and ourselves too don’t want to separate from China? Why do we trade with the enemy and strengthen him?” That’s the question.
China is a place where all these anti-China forces make money, Even if these countries do not accept it in words their economies are dependant and inter linked with China’s economy. if they do not have income or profit from China, they close trade at that very moment. Today, China has become the center of production [the world’s factory or manufacturing hub] for the whole world, and no one else is able to produce a large quantity of such quality goods at an affordable price for the benefit of a large chunk of global population. They cater to the needs of not only the under developed or developing countries but also for the developed world. That is a fact.
The USA does not break away from China, but it continues to lash out at China every day. The EU, the largest anti-China block, said it could not decouple from China, and so did the Central Bank of the EU. France and Germany have publicly admitted that they can not delink China and develop an independent economy.
Politicians may raise an anti-China slogan to get votes, but then they all need money to buy food for the country, and that need is being fulfilled by China. Political slogans are for the sake of demonstration. These demonstrations cannot fill the stomachs of the people. Money and food are real things. Those who believe that China is wicked and a threat to the world should be pitied. They are trapped in the propaganda magic of certain institutes and media. It would be nice if they wake up and start asking some questions.
Has China intervened in other countries and toppled governments? Has it intervened and rigged any elections in other countries? Has it turned any country into their neo-colony? Did it have military bases in other countries? The answer to these questions is obvious. Ask the same questions to the United States and see what the answer wiil be.
Henry Kissinger, a 100-year-old American diplomat and political philosopher said: “America thinks itself is righteous. But other countries don’t think so. Why? Because the USA understands the threat or peace in its favour as opposed to other countries”
- The US-led G7 summit in 2023 said that there is an economic threat posed by China. Actually China’s share of global economic growth in 2013-2021 period was 38.6% and the G7’s share was only 25.7%.China has kept up the global economy from collapsing. Crores of people in their country have been brought out of the clutches of poverty. If you think to make people live comfort- ably is a threat, then you delink yourself from China, let the rest of the world go hand in hand with China, let them live comfortably. What is the need for you to stop them? People raise the voice.
- The G7 group states that if there is a Taiwan war it will have an impact on the global economy. Taiwan is not an international problem, it is only a small domestic conflict between the brothers and sisters, and everyone knows who is blazing fire. Why cannot the so called democracies resist from supporting and encouraging secessionists and let Chinese to solve it among themselves.
- By supporting ukraine’s war, the G6 alliance [i.e,G7minus USA] has plunged into recession since mid-2022, and they are suffering more than Russia. Sanctions imposed on Russia are practically acting as sanctions on the G6.Despite this experience the G6 follows the G1 [USA] in the case of Taiwan too. There is no medicine to cure stupidity.
- Instead of preventing the war in Ukraine, the West provoked to launch a war.The US acted more aggressively. Now the G7 appeals to China not to launch a war against Taiwan, but the G1 [US] continues to provoke for the war. Mr. Kissinger remarked that American politicians have no boundaries to provoke China.
- China is not exporting its political system to other countries. China says that no one should blindly copy its model and suggests that each country should develop its own model that suits its culture and history.
The USA is afraid that communism will grow through small steps and walk up to it. On the other hand, the US is deliberately exporting its model. By exporting wars in the name of democratization, the USA has alienated millions of human beings from their lives or their homeland. Many have lost their citizenship and heritage and made them hide their heads as refugees somewhere. For details, read William Bloom’s “America’s Deadly Export-Democracy”.
Thus the USA’s perception of”peace & threat” is different from that of ordinary people. America, in the name of democracy,is acting as a treacherous state, a terrorist who is forcing its superpower’s arro gance upon the nations of the world. It is not necessary to be an intellectual to realise that USA has become a major threat to interna- tional peace and prosperity.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the White House after delivering his yoga lessons to the United Nations. The US hopes that Modi’s visit will bring India closer to it. He is only the third world leader to be welcomed with a lavish state visit by the current administration. All this for a leader who was once denied a visa to enter the US because of concerns over human rights. The US now looks Modi as a key partner.
However, 75 Democratic Congressmen urged President Biden to raise human rights issues with Modi. They expressed concern over growing religious intolerance i, press sanctions, shrinking of the political space, and targeting civil society groups in India but not raised by Biden at this juncture. But behind the carefully crafted ceremonies lie discussions with motives, that will not only infuse new energy and confidence in India-US relations but also have an impact on the world order.
Our rulers feel that so far India has not been given due respect for its size, population,economic power, its cultural and technological status. Modi has transformed into a global statesman and the leader of a country of inter- national importance,at least this visit is expected to be a proof of that recognition.
While India has not taken a full-fledged pro-US stance on the war in Ukraine and despite some concerns in the US that Modi is under mining democracy and adopting the attitude of religious dictators, Biden spreading red carpet to Modi is a testimony that the US considers India as an indispensable force in america’s global strategy, partly because of India’s economic growth. But geopolitics is the real reason.
The US views that India can play a key role in acting as a check mate on Beijing as the US is at logger heads with China. India’s support for the US in the Asia-Pacific region is now more essential than anywhere else. The US has long seen India as an alternative in response to china’s growing influence in the region. The region is now promoted as the Indo-Pacific region by America. But Delhi is maintaining a bit of secrecy and they are not comfortable being called as agents of the US.They feel that they are a major force in the region. India is acting against China to estsablish this supremacy and dominance in the region. The leftover problems of history between the two countries are .dragged irrationally and played periodically to escalate tensions in the borders. Tha graph of relations with China notices many tides and troughs. While claiming that it wants to be harmonious with China in words and sharing the Dias with them in international forums ,India does not hesitate to announce that normal relations are possible only when borders are calm and takes decisions that are annoying to China. Last year,in the state of Uttarakhand, which shares the Himalayan border with China, India conducted military exercises with US forces .Delhi has been actively participating to contain China through the Quad, which includes Japan Australia,and USA, despite growing resentment from China. Us diplomats believe that what matters is what India does to the US and what India says about China is not important.
The Indian Army so far is heavily dependent on Russia for supplies. New Delhi is now looking to ramp up manufacturing military equipment domestically and expand its resources. Modi wants investments, technology, defense and technical cooperation from US. Modi expects India to gain prominence in international fora, including the United Nations Security Council, and that the engagement with the US will help in this.
Beyond drone sales and the expansion of trade and technology ties, Biden is looking to bring India closer to US as a humble ally to preserve America’s leadership in this global order. After a long and cold phase of relations fraught with some mistrust between both administrations, US has been showing enthusiasm in expanding and deepening relations with India over the past few decades. Of late, particularly after the fall of Soviet union in 1990, relations between India and US have expanded.”The current visit of Modi is a symbol of an unwavering commitment to strengthening ties.It represents the immense potential for both countries to cooperate in the face of global challenges” said a diplomat.
It should be noted, however, that this friendship is expanding from the point of view of the US-China contradictions, to be in the fold of US rather than from the point of view of the interests of the Indian people. External factors, especially defense equations have contributed to the growth of the relationship than welfare and development of people.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently spoke about the current state of these relations: “India and the United States are large, complex countries. We definitely need to work together to promote transparency, promote market access, strengthen our democracies , and unleash the full potential of our people. The trajectory of this partnership is unmistakable. It makes a promise for the future
The current summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden will involve a number of military agreements, including some major defence deals and an agreement for joint production of F414 engines in India and will enable greater transfer of US jet engine technology.
This will further strengthen the US-India defence partnership. It will facilitate joint innovations on defence technology. It will accelerate the integration of India’s burgeoning private sector defence industry with the US defence sector. The next step is to gain dominance over the defence sector industries. The White House has emphatically declared that bilateral relations have entered the next generation.
Thus, on the one hand, many of the countries of the world are tilting towards a developing China, from a war economy to a development-focused cooperative society, and from the US war strategies to peace; On the other hand India is trying to increase its domestic manufacturing capability in weaponry and military equipment, trying to reach out to America’s war strategies. India aims at being the regional lord over neighbours whom it considers as its own backyard countries. For this it seeks help from USA.
India urges to join a list of countries that have been accorded the status of being Defence Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliant. PM Modi’s US Visit now is to bolster Pacts that Open Up US Defence Sector to Indian Companies. Both India and the US had initial talks on the Security of Supply Arrangement (Sosa) and Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement (RDP), it will drastically increase opportunities for Indian manufacturers and US defence majors to engage with multibillion dollar war industries. All such things have been mentioned in the Indo-US roadmap for defence industrial cooperation to get a significant boost during this ongoing visit of Modi.
Today, India exports weapons to over 80 nations, with the US being a prominent customer. India has set an ambitious target of exceeding $5 billion in defence exports annually. India is already spending Rs 7.6 lakh crores as military budget, Rs 5.94 lakh crores on the three defence services and another Rs 1.6 lakh crores shown under different accounts like Home, Space, R&D and Atomic Energy etc., “India’s shift to a Defence oriented economy, with increasing role for the private sector, was embedded in the 2023-24 Budget. The slogan of ‘Aatmanirbhar’ or ‘indigenous’ in Defence was a camouflage. The Defence sector is increasingly a happy hunting ground for private sector, Indian and foreign, Adani being a major beneficiary.” pointed out Mr.Rama krishnan earlier in countercurrents.org
Representatives of the Indian industry earlier have approached defence ministry and higher levels of the government for expediting the agreements as they would enable Indian entities to be qualified as suppliers and contractors for US Department of Defence orders, reported the Economic Times.
“There are signals from both governments that there will be significant movement on tech releasability issues, accelerating the US-India defence cooperation,” Aerospace and Defence, US-India Business Council director Pushan Das told, reported ET.
“The new defence industrial roadmap and associated agreements will see Indian companies getting the opportunity to more comprehensively plug into the US defence industrial base. ”Can this military oriented economy be accepted in a country where 81.35 crores of people need to be fed free by central government under NFSA due to poverty.
We know that India lodges the highest number of very poor [27 crores] and the largest population of illiterate adults [28.7 crores, 37% of global total] in the world. World’s richest business tycoons join PM Modi for State Dinner at the White House and what plans can they have to alleviate poverty. Modi’s visit to USA is not to address these problems but to still increase indulgence in war expenditure. Can it be accepted by peace mongers?
Dr.S. Jatin Kumar is a political commentator
