WASHINGTON, D.C.—The advancement of a strategic relationship and cooperation between America and India has moved to the forefront of the Bush administration's foreign policy agenda.
America and India, by working together will be instrumental in creating a "peaceful and stable" Asia, said R. Nicholas Burns, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State, in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. He stressed that both countries realize that they cannot achieve their objectives on their own.
"We see a possibility of creating with India one of the two or three or four most important strategic relationships that we have with any country in the world," said Burns.
The groundwork for the strategic relationship and cooperation between the two countries was laid during Bush's recent state-visit to India. However, the recent developments of establishing closer ties with India didn't suddenly happen. The Clinton administration began in earnest a dialogue with India around 1995.
An impetus for this agreement is the fact that both countries share democratic values, and have political structures built upon democratic principles. Today, there are 85,000 Indian students in the United States, more than from any other country. These students will take back to their country a deep understanding of America's values and how they affect the democratic way of life.
India as a Global Power
India has moved from non-involvement in internal affairs of other nations, its policy during the first 50 years of its independence, to a political and economic global power and major force in South Asia, with great interest in the affairs of other nations, according to Burns.
India is moving into a position of mediator and hopes to achieve a position where it is called upon to balance the different interests of countries, just as America has been called upon in the past years.
According to Burns, India no longer keeps itself apart from international affairs and has moved away from its prior non-involvement status. India will get involved when it believes that its interest "intersects" with those of other nations, because it has achieved global power status.
"[India] considers itself a global power because it believes it has global interests, whether it's in seeking stability or a situation of military and political stability in Asia itself that includes China, Japan and Australia," said Burns.
Bush has acknowledged that the U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement may not pass in congress as long as India refuses to sign the NPT.
Opponents to the US-India Nuclear agreement argue that the U.S.-India nuclear agreement undercuts the NPT agreement—if one nation that has not signed the NPT is given special status, other nations, such as Pakistan, should receive the same treatment "and open a Pandora's box."
Others argue that if India will get nuclear fuel from the U.S., it will free up domestic uranium for military use.
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