US and India Old Friends in a changing world
Present circumstances:
- The strengthening in bilateral relations was evident during the recent official visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the United States, during which new agreements were struck.
- Speaking to the Indian diaspora and delivering a second speech to the US Congress both demonstrate how the US and India’s relationship is deepening and growing.
Relationship-influencing variables between the two nations:
- The China factor can be the main contributor to the present affability.
- Many countries see China’s increasing military capability and rapid economic growth over the past 45 years as a danger to global security.
- The QUAD, which comprises of Australia, Japan, India, and the US, is one such location for the process. The friendship that the US and India currently share is only a bilateral extension of that.
- One thing is very evident from this: As nations get more prosperous, they must assume responsibility for upholding world peace and welfare.
- The Indian economy is growing:
- The US has undoubtedly been a superpower in terms of both economic strength and military might for a very long time.
- The US economy will be worth $26.6 trillion in April 2023, or $80,000 per person at today’s prices, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With a total GDP of $3.74 trillion and a per capita GDP of barely $2,600, India falls well behind that.
- In PPP terms, India’s GDP climbed to $13 trillion and its per capita GDP reached almost $9,000.
- The dollar-to-PPP conversion factor consequently hovers about 3.5, which, put simply, means that one American dollar can buy around 3.5 times as much in India as it can in the US.
- The discrepancy between the economies of the US and India and the welfare of their respective people is consequently diminished when we examine these variables in PPP values rather than in current US dollars.
Strong trilateral ties advance world peace and prosperity:
- For world peace and prosperity, it would be better if the three countries could work together. But every friendship or team effort needs trust, and trust requires openness in conduct and actions that follow the established ground rules.
- And this is the point at which democratic political systems defeat authoritarian ones. Democracy is not flawless, whether in the US or India, but it is clearly better than authoritarian or military administrations.
Maintaining equilibrium in ties between the USA and Russia:
- World powers are reforming into new alliances in the wake of the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
- India must walk a very tight path between the US and Russia. One can only hope that Prime Minister Modi will be able to strike the appropriate balance in settling these intense conflicts, encourage dialogue and diplomacy, and avoid adding to the chasm that is continually widening and constitutes a threat to humanity’s survival on this planet.
The US and India collaborate in a variety of areas:
- Only a few areas of cooperation between the two nations include defense, space, and possibly even the manufacturing of cutting-edge electronics. Numerous other industries hold great promise.
- In this context, it’s crucial to take into account India’s case for equitable and sustainable growth. India’s voice for growth that must be pro-people and pro-planet is clear and respected. Consequently, the African Union is a G-20 member.
in Defence and Technology:
- India and the US have paid $3 billion for 31 High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles.
- The agreement between GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to work together on the development of fighter aircraft engines for the Indian Air Force was another key milestone.
Climate change and food security:
- The eight billion people who live on our planet likewise value food and nutritional security at least as much as we do. Climate change is endangering this because of rising temperatures.
- India is home to a huge 1.4 billion people. The US is a world leader in technology, not just in the fields of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing, and defense.
- In the 1960s, as the nation battled to feed its rapidly expanding population, numerous state agricultural universities were founded in India with the help and guidance of their counterparts in the US.
- These colleges were instrumental in shaping India’s Green Revolution, even though the initial seeds for high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat were from elsewhere.
- Both nations may reinvigorate their agricultural institutions with the most recent methods and laws to fight climate change and produce more nutrient-dense food with less land, water, and GHG emissions.
Moving forward:
- The inclusion of food and agriculture as one of the primary sectors of US-India cooperation would be specifically pursued. It has the potential to help as many people in developing nations as possible, whether they are in Asia or Africa.
- As a result, a new phase in their relationship is beginning between India and the United States, one that will have an impact on both nations’ and the world’s futures.
