This news is written by Pratibha Seth, third year B.A.LL.B. Student of Mahatma Gandhi kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi. The speeches made by PMs and the changing India-US relationship, from Manmohan Singh to Narendra Modi. With due credit to Indian Express.
Modi has carried on Manmohan Singh’s legacy by advancing defence and cutting-edge technology, two vital strategic areas. Singh started this journey by approving the Indo-US nuclear accord. Seven summers ago, when PM Modi gave his first speech to the US Congress, he highlighted commerce, the creation of jobs, and the expansion of security cooperation as aspects of the defence portfolio.
During his one-hour speech to the US Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “At the beginning of the century, we were unfamiliar with each other’s defence cooperation.” The US is currently among our most significant defence partners.
It is June 2023 at this time. One can see the shift in strategic ties over the past fifteen years by reading Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2005 address to the US Congress. Defence connections were not mentioned at the time. The high-technology transfer was initiated by Singh, who famously declared in the same speech, “A crucial area of collaboration between our two nations is civil nuclear energy”. We are changing our relationship in this industry as a result of our combined efforts. I came to an agreement with President Bush to look for methods to facilitate this kind of cooperation. That occurred in July of 2005, and it was a turning point.
Let’s go back to June of 2016. Seven summers ago, when PM Modi gave his first speech to the US Congress, he highlighted commerce, the creation of jobs, and the expansion of security cooperation as aspects of the defence portfolio.
Visit by PM Modi to the US:
Why does America need India?
In 2016, Modi stated, “And the movement of capital, goods, and services between us creates jobs in both of our communities. In defence as in trade. More exercise is conducted between India and the US than with any other partner. In less than ten years, defence spending has increased from nearly nil to ten billion dollars. Our collaboration also guards against cyberattacks and keeps our vital infrastructure safe from terrorist attacks, safeguarding our cities and people.
At that time, in September 2000, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the same US Congress and issued a “call to step out of the shadow of hesitation’ of the past,’ ‘ something Modi did mention in 2016. “Today, our relationship has overcome the hesitations of history,” said Prime Minister Modi. However, it took an additional seven years for the situation to change to the point where an Indian prime minister may openly discuss defence relations with the US without facing domestic political backlash.
Address by PM Modi to the US Congress:
Thus, he stated, “When defence and aerospace in India grow, industries in the states of Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania thrive,” while carefully wording it to emphasise the creation of jobs. Research and development facilities owned by American corporations prosper in India as they expand. However, he made it very apparent later on that “the United States has become one of our most important defence partners.” The GE jet engine agreement and the drone arrangement, wherein India wants to purchase General Atomics MQ-9B HALE UAVs, are examples of defence deals involving knowledge transfer. However, the other significant lesson is the high-intensity cooperation in “critical and emerging technologies.” Just about a year ago, India and the US began publicly discussing this new transformative field. And now that the NSAs are in charge, they have been given the task of discussing everything from quantum computing to artificial intelligence to semiconductors.
Again, one must revisit Manmohan Singh’s 2005 speech to the US Congress to observe how the technology landscape has changed: As he was establishing the first cornerstone of the nuclear deal, he put it within the framework of the government that denies technology. It is in America’s best interest for India to thrive and prosper. American businesses will benefit from lower costs and increased global competitiveness as a result of their investments in India, particularly in emerging technology sectors. Additionally, he explained it in terms of investments and trade, particularly in the IT industry: In a similar vein, India’s profits from these investments will result in more American purchases. The main foundation of India’s information technology revolution is US computer hardware and software.
There are countless more instances of these win-win situations where everyone wins. In 2016, Modi declared, “Our citizens’ lives are positively impacted by both the growing investment by Indian companies in the United States and the transformative American technologies in India.”
India is now the US firms’ preferred location for their global research and development centres. He continued by saying that in order to combat hunger, poverty, diseases, and illiteracy in various regions of the world, the US and India have pooled their strengths in science, technology, and innovation.
What is the US House Samosa Caucus that PM Modi mentioned?
However, by 2023, technology collaboration will cut across several industries, since this new, revolutionary field will include semiconductors, space, engines, and drones. “In the twenty-first century, technology will determine security, prosperity, and leadership.” For this reason, a new “Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies” was founded by our two nations. He declared yesterday night, “Our knowledge partnership will serve humanity and seek solutions to the global challenges of hunger, health, and climate change.”
In summary, Manmohan Singh started the Indo-US nuclear pact, and Modi has carried it further by making significant progress in the two vital strategic areas of military and cutting-edge technology. Furthermore, he has now made it very apparent in public. Delhi’s strategic decision was made with little political fallout at home because China has been the main disruptor in the Indo-Pacific, mobilising troops along the border and engaging in belligerence there. Additionally, Delhi’s supply chains have become unreliable due to an excessive reliance on Chinese manufacturing.
~ Pratibha
