What is the issue?
- There is now clear signs that relationships between Indian and the U.S. is strained.
- Steps must be urgently taken to arrest this drift.
What is the evolving dynamics?
- The U.S. President Trump had decided to walk out of the multilateral nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) with Iran.
- This was subsequently followed by the U.S. Congress’s CAATSA law, which imposed sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea.
- Mr. Trump is also said to be insistent on tough sanctions against all those continuing to engage with Iran and Russia.
- These developments have direct effects for India, as Iran is a major crude supplier and Russia is a major defence seller to India.
- Additionally, U.S. has also been harsh on countries like India and China for allegedly having “skewed trade tariffs” and “big trade surpluses” with the U.S.
What has been India’s reaction?
- On its part, the Modi government has openly asserted a clear change away from the pro-U.S. tilt of India’s foreign policy.
- In the recent “Shangri-La Dialogue”, Modi asserted ‘strategic autonomy’ in foreign affairs, indicating India’s growing independence from the U.S. block.
- Defying the U.S. rhetoric demanding reduction in engagements with Russia and Iran, bilateral were held with both of these countries recently.
- India has also promised to raise oil imports from Iran this year, and has committed to increase engagements on the Chabahar port project.
- In addition, India has been negotiating a $5.5 billion deal with Russia for the S-400 Triumf missile systems, all of which is likely to attract U.S. ire.
How does the future look?
- U.S. has always pressured allies to limit their ties with countries that it considers a threat to the international order.
- But Trump administration has been going public with its ultimatum and deadlines, which is making it difficult for partners to comply.
- India’s present international engagements are likely to trigger U.S. sanctions unless the two countries reach a compromise soon.
- But political will to address these issues is clearly not there presently, as both governments are engrossed in their own calculus.
- Notably, there has been little Indo-U.S. political engagement lately and even the scheduled “Foreign & Defence Minsters” 2+2 dialogue has been postponed.
Quick Facts
Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD)
- SLD (or IISS - ‘Asia Security Summit’), is an inter-governmental security forum conducted by “International Institute for Strategic Studies” (IISS).
- IISS is an independent international think tank that intends to cultivate among policy makers of different countries, a sense of community.
- SLD is attended by high ranking government and military officials of 28 Asia-Pacific states and is held annually in Singapore’s Shangri-La Hotel since 2002.
Source: The Hindu
