“The Republic of India is one of America’s closest and most important allies, and our relationship has always enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, D.C. I am thankful that India has stepped up as a leader in the fight against coronavirus, and am glad that our special partnership remains strong during this pandemic,” Congressman George Holding, spoke at the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.
India of 2020 is vividly different from what it was seventy years ago. Presently, at $3 trillion, it is the world’s fifth-largest economy and is on its way to becoming the third-largest during this decade. It holds a reasonably powerful military and exults confidence regarding its place in the world. India has entered into several partnerships as an equal and stitched global agreements on critical issues such as climate change. The world needs India to play a large role in the near future. The results have been distinctly visible. India is actively and increasingly donning the role of a first responder for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the region, strengthening the role of a dependable security provider. The post-pandemic world is a challenging and curious one. The coronavirus has ushered in a change in the behavioral, social, and political attitudes at a micro level, which has led to insurmountable domestic changes.
Further, it is also impacting nation-states at a macro level. One is witnessing that economic vulnerabilities are being exposed. There is an accelerated shift in geopolitical stands/dynamics. It is also leveling the playing field. The global order is being susceptible to the fundamental rise of middle powers. Global flows of labor and capital were key determinants of India’s economic power in the pre-COVID-19 world cryptic. Increasing India’s economic power can help ensure favorable relations with many other poles of the dynamic post-COVID-19 global economic landscape. However, US-China competition will continue, and this will influence India’s choice of economic partners as well as the security decisions it needs to make. The recent visit of the United States President Donald Trump to India in February 2020 has laid down proactive measures which have strengthened the foundation between both the countries.
Despite the COVID -19 pandemic, the relation between U.S-India has grown. Both nations have shown signs of continuous cooperation. The foreign officials of both countries are in frequent contact with each other. This includes both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and our external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have been in a dialogue post the spread of the virus. There are acute concerns about China’s aggressive behavior, which is also one of the reasons for driving New Delhi and Washington closer together. Both the respective countries have a stake in ensuring that they do not cede influence to China in the provision of pandemic relief, especially to smaller countries in the region. The pursuit of influence continues unabated despite the pandemic. The reach out by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. The conversation was regarding the request by the American President Trump for releasing an anti-malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine. They further interacted regarding the joint effort of the United States and India to lead the world in the race to discover a vaccine against COVID-19 and the vaccines sure to be needed against other viruses. It has been seen from the past that the U.S. and India are great reservoirs of bio-medical research talent and the information technology resources necessary to support this talent.
Further, the Indian-American doctors and scientists are prominent in the United States, and their Indian counterparts act together to form a natural bridge for scientific cooperation unequaled in any other bilateral relationship. However, for this U.S.-India collaboration on vaccine development to be successful with full effectiveness, there has to be an adequate policy framework that shall resolve the disputes relating to intellectual property and regulatory issues. Such issues need to be sorted out to iron out any differences that may arise. With regard to this, the Indian diplomacy has been evident, but circumventing the issues of the post-pandemic world will require a more nimble-footed response as it comes to managing great power relationships. It is in this space that India’s mettle will be put to the test on several macro parameters, and pertinent questions will be asked. This will be a defining moment for India, and its ability to respond will achieve strategic goals.
REFERENCES:
Kotasthane, P., Kanisetti, A., Manur, A., & Alladi, A. (2020, May 14). India’s bargaining power with China and US will grow in post-Covid world. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://theprint.in/opinion/indias-bargaining-power-with-china-and-us-will-grow-in-post-covid-world/420395/
Rajagopalan, R. P. (2020, May 8). The pandemic and China are strengthening US-India relations, for now. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-pandemic-and-china-are-strengthening-us-india-relations-for-now-65840/
Suri, M. (2020, February 25). From the Cold War to trade wars: Six things you need to know about Indo-US ties. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/24/asia/india-us-relations-history-intl/index.html
Thakur, R. (2020, March 22). U.S.-India relations shape Japan’s strategic environment. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/03/22/commentary/japan-commentary/u-s-india-relations-shape-japans-strategic-environment/#.Xs1eVC9h1QJ
US Congressman Calls India ‘Leader in Fight against Coronavirus’ over Move to Supply Hydroxychloroquine. (2020, May 1). Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://www.news18.com/news/india/us-congressman-calls-india-as-a-leader-in-fight-against-coronavirus-over-move-to-supply-hydroxychloroquine-2600523.html
Vickery, R. E. (2020, April 7). The US and India Should lead the Defense of Democracy in the COVID–19 Crisis. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/the-us-and-india-should-lead-the-defense-of-democracy-in-the-covid-19-crisis/
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