Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Our planet is buckling under the weight of intertwined environmental crises: conflict, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These unfolding catastrophes are getting worse by the day and jeopardizing decades of hard-won development gains. Especially in the Asia Pacific region as in just the last few months, countries from India to Vanuatu have been blanketed in record heat, lashed by cyclones and floodwaters. The extreme weather events have combined with other long-percolating environmental problems like air pollution and deforestation to impact economic growth. We have to find opportunities to showcase the power of multilateralism to deliver timely, inclusive, science-based solutions to the planet’s gravest environmental threats because no one country or regional bloc, no matter how big, or how rich can tackle these challenges alone. As India takes a leading role in the global South, its climate partnership with the United States will bring climate action to the forefront, and can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for both countries and the world at large. Emphasizing the importance of technology transfer, investments and collaboration in critical sectors, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles, the bilateral collaboration is an opportunity for both the countries to address the global challenge of climate change while reaping economic benefits.
The current ‘2+2’ dialogue which is aimed at taking forward India-U.S. futuristic roadmap for deeper strategic cooperation has come at the right time when several avenues of cooperation have to be explored further from which have been talked about. Both sides have to take stock of contemporary regional issues and exchange views about shared priorities for augmenting cooperation in multilateral platforms, and through frameworks such as Quad. Defense remains one of the most important pillars of the bilateral relationship between the two countries and both are in the process of integrating their industrial bases and sharing cutting-edge technology. These meetings have helped India acquire a growing number of military technologies as well. A key focus of the ministers discussions will be the Indo-Pacific region. India and the US are key members of the Quad, which is scheduled to meet at a leaders level early next year in India. The Quad security alliance, which also includes Australia and Japan, seeks to check China’s expansionist ambitions in the region, which Washington perceives as the most significant challenge in its foreign policy.
Strategic Partnership
The situation in Ukraine and now the current Hamas-Israel conflict is an opportune time for both the countries to further deepen the India US strategic partnership. Both in the bilateral relationship and the framework of the Quad, the rise of China has been a key factor in driving closer collaboration on a variety of policy issues. The US has been pushing India to take a more prominent role in deterring China in the region, a move that risks deepening tensions between New Delhi and Beijing. India and the US are working together, in space and in the seas, in science and in semiconductors, in start-ups and sustainability, in tech and in trade, in farming and finance, in art and artificial intelligence, in energy and education, in healthcare and humanitarian efforts”. For India, this marks a significant recalibration of an arms diplomacy approach that has historically favored Soviet and Russian legacy equipment. Technology cooperation and associated arms and technology transfers have consequently emerged as one of the most central components of the contemporary relations between New Delhi and Washington.
India and the US have gradually expanded the scope and depth of their bilateral technology cooperation over the course of the 21st century, with a specific focus on defense technologies and critical and emerging technologies. Much of this has occurred in the context of a changing geostrategic environment in which India has sought to balance China via a diversification of its relationships with non-traditional partners. While these partnerships have not been formalized as alliances (and are unlikely to be formalized as such), they mark a significant recalibration in how India approaches its strategic environment. The primary drivers of this relationship, from the US side are they see India as a counterweight to China’s dominance in the Indian Ocean region and incorporating it in the network of alliances and partnerships in the region. Harnessing India’s large pool of technically qualified and talented human resources to revolutionize advancements in the field of CET, and include India in the architecture of resilient supply chains. From the Indian perspective, India and the US cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic, economic and security issues, including, regional cooperation, defence, counter-terrorism, cyber, space, science and technology, energy, education, health, agriculture, environment, climate change etc. The focus is on bringing about strategic and economic convergence, to enable India to build its own capacities and capabilities across domains, including strengthening its deterrence and war-fighting capabilities for a lead role in the region.
Way Forward
In the journey of the last two decades from `estrangement’ to `engagement’, lessons have been learnt by India and the US about the mutual benefits of partnership. It is expected that the next phase will manifest in the emergence of a stronger India, capable of deterring and defeating aggression along its borders and contributing towards maintaining regional security, in the realisation of our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific. The collaboration with India will also reduce the US’ dependence on China for low cost solar panels. With India’s big commitment on renewable targets, green hydrogen and electric vehicles there are a lot of similarities between how the US and India can help each other on finance mobilisation, and also on technology and innovation when it comes to sectors like electric vehicles or wind power or battery technology.
Indian leaders see defense cooperation with the United States as a means of acquiring better technology and a strong defense industrial base. Moreover, India’s security concerns about China have not precluded it from cooperating with China through BRICS and the SCO — two groups India values for global agenda-setting. India will continue to identify as the “voice of the Global South” and advocate for a more inclusive international system in which developing countries have more representation in shaping the international order.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
