Impending visit of US President Barack Obama to India in November is pregnant with enthusiasm, expectations and also apprehensions by political leaders, international as well as national observers including activists, writers and intellectuals across the world. Even months before the visit is to take place spadeworks started for the international celebrity's visit to our country. Amidst much fanfare, pomp and pageantry, a red-carpet welcome awaits 'the most powerful personality of a most powerful nation'. Eminent persons holding powerful positions like NSA, Foreign Secretary and even Ministers of both nations have already completed several rounds of trips, both to US and India for the preparatory works in anticipation of the high profile visit. The celebrity's security coverage being of primary importance especially when terror elements like eagles with prying eyes are on the prowl beefing up of security cover ought to be in place in a few days from now. Even without it the Home Ministry had taken maximum caution by providing and overlooking security coverage to those participating in the Common Wealth Games now going on in Delhi. To provide His Excellency and his entourage maximum protection is a primary responsibility till the moment the team bids adieu to India.
Industrialists, businessmen, software professional besides those at the higher echelons of power, the first Lady Michelle Obama and their two kids are expected in the entourage.
Obama's visit to India is at a critical juncture especially when Russia and China are getting more and more closer to each other, remember China and Russia both nurture plans of cementing their relationship with India about which US is very much aware of. As US unlike Indian authorities keeps a keen eye around, watching the changing equations, permutations and combinations and in accordance with it chalks out future course of actions and impement them to its advantage. The respect and regards that the neighbouring country of little Bhutan extends towards India, we display our respect and regards to US and most often we the citizens witness our 'bosses' at the top always play subservient to America. US's stern demands and reminders are being willingly and slavishly followed by our leaders and it is something shameful to us citizens if not to our rulers.
Now that US-Pakistan relationship has reached a sour note due to the frequent bombardment of Pak's North-West Frontier Province after intelligence report of a terrorist attack across Europe came out into the open Pakistan is fretting and fuming against US. Kind of impotent rage - nothing else. One factor behind America getting closer to India is this one. Only one factor. As we are already aware, US also knows for certain that Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism since years. More essential factors lie elsewhere, I am coming to it.
India too nurses some complaints towards US and they are expected to surface during the upcoming talks with Obama. Unemployment situation in US is alarming, 95000 went unemployed within a short span. Already millions have gone out of employment in US. Ever since the global economic meltdown US, one way or other though struggles its maximum to lift the suffering economy and bring it back to normality has not succeeded in its attempts. The alarming situation forced Obama to adopt protectionist policies and proceeded on the lines of taxing those firms outsourcing jobs abroad, among the badly affected nations India is a prominent loser. As the jobs gone Bangalored earlier, the flow came to a gradual stop affecting our software professionals badly. A double whammy to software industry in India and soon after our leaders and officials besides meekly protesting flew to US to shed tears before Uncle Sam. Last week Pranab Mukherjee, our all-rounder Finance Minister delivered a speech in USA attacking the protectionist tendencies of countries and took time to warn about the repercussions if such countries are bent upon continuing such policies. During Obama's visit Indian side will be raking up this issue before him and we will have to wait with bated breath his responses regarding the matter. Even if a positive response is assured, soon after reaching home country, whether Obama will backtrack from his assurance, wait and see. He is at his diplomatic best whereever he goes and 'that is the trouble'.
Our Finance Minister, missed no chance in requesting US to lobby for a permanent seat in UN Security Council. Dreaming after all is no one's monopoly. Let's dream of becoming a permanent member in the UN Securtiy Council and it is worthwhile to remember that this dream we nurture is years old.
Furthermore, this is a critical juncture as far as US is concerned. For us too.
In anticipation of US President's visit to India , an article titled - 'Russia sets with US, sprints with China' - by a former Indian diplomat M.K.Bhadrakumar appeared in a national daily today. Whether this new discovery is something to do with my 'wild imagination', if so beg your pardon.
In his artcile Bhadrakumar, a man of leftist leanings, dwells upon the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to China and the talks transpired there in a cordial atmosphere and the agreement signed between the two nations, thereby Russia would supply oil and gas to China which is one of the large consumers of oil and gas in the world. Besides both nations have arrived at a consensus on 'mulit-polarism' and 'poly-centrism' , thus building up bilateral relationships more stronger.
And within minutes after his arrival in his home soil a call from US greeted Dmitry Medvedev, this time by none other than US President Barack Obama informing him of the glad news of extending invitation to join World Trade Organisation (WTO). Russia was kept out of WTO for long years, to be precise, during and after the Cold war era Obama's invitation was certainly to do with widening and strengthening the cordial relations with China.
NATO has invited Mr.Medvedev to attend a conference to be held in Lisbon under the auspices of France, to be attended by Germany in November.
Russia's unqualified support and recognition of Taiwan, Tibet, Zianjiang has also helped warming up the relationships between the two countries.
As I had already pointedout changing equations would lead to new permutations and combinations and therefore India like US, Russia and China should have to keep its ears glued to the ground to come to grips with the changing scenarios and move ahead accordingly. A number of agreements and pacts are expected to be signed by the two countries and I need not dwell upon the areas about to be called as everyone is very well aware of the aforementioned.
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