Rossownomics to fix Indo-US ties

New Delhi: As US President Barack Obama makes his all-important debut at India’s Republic Day celebrations, many impending deals will be brought up.

Moving forward on issues of civil nuclear deal, technology transfer and joint ventures in defence will be among the key areas where India and the US will like to have “concrete deliverables” during the highly anticipated three-day trip of US President Barack Obama. 

Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said cooperation in key areas of defence, security, counter-terrorism and the situation in India’s extended neighbourhood would be among the issues to be discussed between Obama and Prime Minister Modi. 

The two countries will also deliberate on ways to boost trade and economic ties as well as the crucial issue of climate change is also expected to figure prominently in talks between Modi and Obama.

India has asserted that it sees the US as a key partner for capital, technology, knowledge and skills in its development effort as also potentially important source of clean energy technology and hydrocarbons. 

Richard Rossow, senior fellow who holds the Wadhwani Chair in US- India Policy Studies at CSIS, highlighted the following issues which should be resolved between Obama and Modi.

1. Find a workable solution to the nuclear liability issue.  Need to remove this symbol of unmet expectations.

2. Get agreement on a few defence projects for co-development/ co-production.

3. Conclude one or more of the mid-size defence deals which are pending.

4. Promise a thorough review of options/ way forward on the Social Security Totalization Agreement.

5. A climate deal akin to the US China deal may not be feasible. But securing funding/ cooperation on areas of emission reduction that align with India’s goals (small solar in off-grid areas, connecting to untapped hydropower in Nepal) make lots of sense. And the nuclear deal, noted above, is a climate deal of sorts.