July 15, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malawi: Diplomacy: National Security: Sify: Robert Blackwill said India and the United States have a great future in developing closer relations
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July 15, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malawi: Diplomacy: National Security: Sify: Robert Blackwill said India and the United States have a great future in developing closer relations
Robert Blackwill said India and the United States have a great future in developing closer relations
Robert Blackwill served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi, Ambasssador to India, and as a Deputy National Security Advisor to Condoleezza Rice.
Robert Blackwill said India and the United States have a great future in developing closer relations
India, US have great future: Blackwill
Friday, 15 July , 2005, 12:31
Washington: Making out a strong case for bolstering US and India bilateral relations, former US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill said the two countries have a great future in developing closer relations, not just for their strategic, defense and energy needs but also for a convergence of their national interests and democratic values in a fast changing world order.
''Washington has to deal increasingly in a collaborative way strategically with India for the mutual benefit of the two nations,'' Blackwill said while speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in connection with the release of an in-depth strategy report on US-India relations, ''India As a New Global Power: An Action Agenda for the United States'' yesterday.
The report, written by Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment Ashley Tellis, proposing the transformation of relations between the two countries with major implications for the future balance of power in Asia, comes on the eve of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's state visit to Washington next week.
Blackwill, who has been described as the architect of India-US relations, spelt out three crucial areas -- war on terror, weapons proliferation and the rise of China -- where the US and India could work together to safeguard their national interests.
''India which began to suffer the effects of Islamic jihadism long before 9/11, actually more than decade ago, will be with us to the end as others fall away because of their understanding of the threat,'' he said.
''If Islamic terrorists had to discuss in the dead of night where they might detonate the nuclear weapon that they have acquired, they might likely debate Washington, Jerusalem as the most pressing targets but New Delhi and Mumbai would be close by,'' Blackwill said stressing cooperation in prevention of weapons of mass destruction -- an area where both India and US have long term interests.
''No two other countries share equally the challenge to shake the Chinese power. This is not containment, or a counter-balance strategy. Both India and US would be enormously affected by what kind of China emerges over the next decade and it would be in the national interest of both the nations to watch over this situation,'' the former US envoy said with regard to the rise of China.
''India's objectives and interests in the Gulf are not different than our own. Thus India and the US have a very good future.
Administrations in both places may come and go but that is not going to be structurally important because ultimately it is our national interests and our democratic values that would prevail.'' Earlier, giving a detailed analysis on why India has become an important global player and why US needs to engage in a meaningful way, Blackwill said, it is easily the largest country with a 200 million or so middle class, greater than the combined total populations of Britain, France and Germany.
''It has 7 to 8 per cent growth rate and a cutting edge information and pharmaceutical technology with the best yet to come.
It has million-men army and in the next decade it will buy or produce 400 or more advanced combat aircraft and also launch several aircraft carriers. This country produces dozens of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. It is closer to the Gulf and three million of its nationals live in the Gulf region. Its population is solidly pro-American,'' he said.
''If this country were to be in Europe it would be the dominating European super power. However, it exists as an India,'' he added.
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Story Source: Sify
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Malawi; Diplomacy; National Security
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