Why US needs India
India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has doubled in the last few years. The country is rich in natural resources and therefore, it has an enormous potential to grow.
It is the only, third world country capable of meeting the challenges posed by globalisation. Despite three major wars with the adjoining countries and rising internal unrest in the form of terrorism, the country has still progressed.
The thriving economy and advancement in information technology are now being realised as a major threat by America and its allies. India's natural resources, infrastructure and a liberal economy promises to open a new gateway to development.
Politically, India is well-established in central Asia. It shares its boundaries with China, Pakistan, Tibet, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, giving it political as well as economic significance.
After gaining independence from the British, India took a definite step towards development, and especially after liberalisation, it has achieved phenomenal progress in the socio-economic sphere.
Although India has never shared ideal relations with America it is now on its way to improve the relations. Going back to the roots of the history of Indo-US relations, there is a strong affirmation that America was never loyal to India. The ghost of American letdown still haunts India. And clearly America broke the ice because of its vested interests.
The deal between India and America in 1963 guaranteed a cache of enriched uranium to India. But after India conducted its first nuclear test at Pokhran in 1974, western countries imposed sanctions against India. America blocked fuel flow to Tarapur, and said that its legislation prevented it from doing so.
Since then there has been a dust up as the agreement with America was an intergovernmental one. It was supported by the American government itself. So India was treated as a vagrant nuclear state by America and its allies. This was a notable disturbance in the political history of Indo-US relations.
The retracted, clone deal has appeared yet again with blessing and opportunities for America. According to the 'Collective Lawyer's' cover story of February 2007, Naom Chomsky in a recent interview confirmed it: "Washington's decision is openly dictated by commercial interests."
The American military industry sees India as a huge potential market and the same is true of the nuclear deal industry and others.
Ron Somers who heads the India-US Business Council, which represents the largest 250 American companies with trade interest and investment in India, has remarked that India's nuclear energy market has estimated the need of US$ 100 billion in foreign direct investment, which till now had been a closed sector. It will be opened for American companies now, creating a potential of 270,000 American jobs in high technology and manufacturing over the next decade. India, in turn will chalk up less than 2.5 per cent of nuclear power generation it needs by 2015, at a hefty cost of natural resources if the deal comes through.
So, visibly there is no notable cream for India to sign this deal. Apart from this, the country will appear as a green pasture politically as well as economically for America. As it is said, "one who rules the Middle East can rule Asia and the one who rules Asia can rule the whole world."
America has dictating presence in the Middle East and some Asian countries. According to the strategy of White House, it needs a huge presence of military and infrastructure to rule the roost in Asia and undermine the economy of the continent.
India can not only be trusted to support America's interests, but can also serve as a vital location for operations in the continent. This has been confirmed, in a report presented by the Department of Defence, entitled 'Indo-US military relationship: expectations and perceptions.'
An American Colonel is quoted as saying "the American navy wants a neutral territory on the opposite side of the world that can provide support for operation in the Middle East." India not only has a good infrastructure, the Indian navy has proved that it can fix and fuel American ships. India is a viable player in supporting all naval missions, including escorting and responding to regional crisis. So the report has proved that India will be the green pasture for America to engulf the third world countries and undermine their economies.
Once the 123 Agreement comes through, the arms race will speed up in the nuclear states of the sub-continent. After India, Pakistan has also proposed the same bid to America. Because of security reasons, America has turned down the bid.
But in turn, China has assured Pakistan of the sale of nuclear reactors at $10 billion. So it is an obvious signal to America that China will not accept in America's plan to set up their presence in the region and make it a political market for White House, which will result in doubt and chaos.
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