New Delhi: US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a deal aimed at unlocking billions of dollars in nuclear trade and deepening defence ties, steps both sides hope will help establish an enduring strategic partnership.
India and the US struck a deal that could open the door for US companies to build nuclear reactors in India by promising insurance cover to US companies. that had shied away from an Indian law placing liability on suppliers in case of an accident. It remains to be seen whether the new pact will satisfy companies such as GE and Toshiba-owned Westinghouse, who had stayed away since a landmark 2008 agreement that ended India's nuclear isolation. The new pact also resolved differences over US demands on tracking the whereabouts of material supplied to the country.
India's size, location, fast-growing economy and potential as a democratic counterbalance to China makes the South Asian nation an increasingly important element of US military and commercial strategy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertiveness in the region has already aligned India more with Washington, and the two leaders reiterated a September statement affirming "the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea," a veiled reference to China, which is asserting territorial claims in the region.
"We call on all parties to avoid the threat or use of force and pursue resolution of territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," they said in a statement.
India and the United States do not see eye-to-eye on Pakistan, and India is worried about the exit of US troops from Afghanistan. India wants greater cooperation on terrorism and access to high-technology goods for civilian and military use.
The United States overtook Russia as the biggest weapons supplier to India, the Indian government said in August. India is the world's biggest weapons importer. The two countries finalised a defence framework pact for 10 years. Four deals were unveiled on the trip, including joint production of Raven drones and systems for Lockheed's C-130 transport planes. The two countries will also explore jointly developing jet engine technology.
The United States will provide funding assistance to boost India's solar energy capacity that can help the country lower its carbon emissions. India wants to ramp up its solar capacity by 33 times over seven years, an ambitious plan that requires investments of $100 billion.
Obama, who said "India's voice is very important" in climate change negotiations, sought support to achieve a global climate deal later this year in Paris. Modi, however, made it clear India did not feel pressure to commit to a peak year for emissions as done by the United States and China in an agreement signed in November. India is the world's third largest carbon emitter but has always been reluctant in committing to emission cuts by saying it needs to focus on growth to alleviate poverty.
India and the United States said they will establish several bilateral mechanisms to identify opportunities to boost business, trade and investment ties. Modi and Obama last year targeted a five-fold increase in annual trade to $500 billion. But US business leaders have been frustrated by limits on their access to the Indian market, and battles over intellectual property protection. Both the countries have also filed several cases against each other at the World Trade Organisation over protection of their domestic steel, poultry and solar industries.
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