New life for old ties: Are India and the US about to improve relations?

[Vikrant]

...

In 2005, President George W. Bush pushed for India to become the only country to get a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group to receive civil nuclear fuel without having signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Relations between the US and India became strained when the US sensed it did India a huge favor but got little in return: Not only did India slam the US with hefty liability fines on the fuel it helped India secure, but India did not pursue promised economic reforms to create more opportunities for US business.

But, on the eve of his visit to the US, Prime Minister Singh allowed for a key sticking point in the relationship to come unstuck, and analysts are hopeful that this could grease ties – at least a bit.

“This visit is incremental, not transformational,” says Samir Saran, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation, a leading New Delhi think-tank.

...

New life for old ties: Are India and the US about to improve relations? - CSMonitor.com

 

[MHunterB]

We would do well to improve relations with India.

While China remains Communist, it remains a threat to peace throughout Asia - and beyond. The surest way to counter that is to build closer ties with India.

On one level, India and China have much in common, ancient civilizations which have never really been fully conquered by another (British Empire notwithstanding). But that has tended more to fuel rivalry than promote cooperation.

And of course China's occupation of Tibet has not been any help.....

The US needs a partner in Asia - and China is never going to be anyone's partner.

 

[daveman]

New life for old ties:

 

[Vikrant]

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur at the White House on September 27, 2013. Their visit underscored the close ties between the United States and India, underpinned by shared democratic values that have strengthened and enriched both nations. The leaders highlighted ongoing cooperation in the following areas:

Fact Sheet: The United States and India ? Strategic and Global Partners | The White House

 

[LuckyDuck01!]

I've long believed that we should break ties with Pakistan, as well as other Islamic nations and align with India.

 

[Saigon]

I've long believed that we should break ties with Pakistan, as well as other Islamic nations and align with India.

It's a sad thing when forming an alliance with one country means you also have to become enemies of their enemies.

The US should seek to maintain good relationships with as many countries as possible, and certainly with as many moderate Islamic countries as possible.

 

[longknife]

I agree that we should cut our ties with Pakistan that has done nothing but hinder our attempts to bring civilization to Afghanistan.

At the same time, I don't think India cares one way or another about "improving relations" with the USA and its current administration. They already have a huge percentage of our IT industry. What more do they need?

 

[Vikrant]

US, India sign commercial nuclear deal


WASHINGTON, Sept 28: The United States and India have signed two landmark agreements -- their first commercial nuclear deal and an accord between the two governments to enhance defence cooperation.

The two countries had signed a historic agreement five years ago, paving the way for India’s ultimate recognition as an atomic power. But a dispute over India’s nuclear liability law had delayed a commercial deal.

US President Barack Obama announced the commercial deal on Friday evening after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House.

“We’ve made enormous progress on the issue of civilian nuclear power and, in fact, have been able to achieve just in the last few days an agreement on the first commercial agreement between a US company and India on civilian nuclear power,” he said.

Later in a joint statement, the two leaders noted that with government-to-government procedures agreed, commercial negotiations between India’s Nuclear Power Corporation and an American firm, Westinghouse, were proceeding smoothly.

A fact sheet issued by the White House said the agreement should facilitate progress toward licensing the AP-1,000 nuclear reactor technology in India.

The two governments also decided to complete discussions on the administrative arrangements at an early date.

The Indian government intends to use US nuclear technology at commercial power sites it is developing in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh using US nuclear technology.

The two leaders urged Indian and US companies Westinghouse and General Electric-Hitachi to expedite the necessary work to establish nuclear power plants in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

“Both sides reaffirm their commitment to the full and timely implementation of the India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement,” the joint statement said.

Indian firms will now sign a memorandum of understanding with their American counterparts for the exchange of technical information in nuclear safety matters.

Another joint statement issued after the Obama-Singh meeting noted that defence cooperation and engagement between the two countries had increased significantly over the past decade.

“We continue to work toward achieving the full vision of expanded defence cooperation set forth in the 2005 New Framework Agreement.”

The two countries endorsed the following general principles for fulfilling this vision:

“The United States and India share common security interests and place each other at the same level as their closest partners. This principle will apply with respect to defence technology transfer, trade, research, co-development and co-production for defence articles and services, including the most advanced and sophisticated technology.

“They will work to improve licensing processes, and, where applicable, follow expedited licence approval processes to facilitate this cooperation. The US and India are also committed to protecting each other’s sensitive technology and information.

“The US continues to fully support India’s full membership in the four international export control regimes which would further facilitate technology sharing.

“The two sides will continue their efforts to strengthen mutual understanding of their respective procurement systems and approval processes, and to address process-related difficulties in defence trade, technology transfer and collaboration.

“The two sides look forward to the identification of specific opportunities for cooperative and collaborative projects in advanced defence technologies and systems, within the next year. Such opportunities will be pursued by both sides in accordance with their national policies and procedures, in a manner that would reflect the full potential of the relationship.”

US, India sign commercial nuclear deal - DAWN.COM