Major announcements on economics, on raising US exports to India, and some commercial deals are likely to be made during President Barack Obama’s India visit, the White House announced today.
Making public a part of his itinerary, White House officials said in Washington that while outsourcing was part of the relationship, “India is also a tremendous market, potential market, for US exports and a source of investment back in the US. And, so, it’s more than a unidimensional relationship and it’s a tremendous opportunity for goods, services, agriculture that he’ll be pursuing while he‘s there, for supporting jobs back here in the US.”
Answering repeated questions on outsourcing, officials said the President’s message to India would be to increase exports from the US.
The officials also clearly expected important commercial deals to be signed. ‘Large contracts are being worked on between US companies and their Indian counterparts, oftentimes with the support of the US government in terms of our advocacy efforts or our trade finance being available. And, we hope to consummate some of these deals in the run-up to the President’s visit,” these officials said.
Undersecretary for political affairs, William Burns, who attended the White House press conference, said, when asked about the contentious nuclear liability law: “What we seek is a level playing field for our companies. India’s leadership has said that’s what it wants to ensure, too, and so I think we’re making progress.” He did not make any commitments about getting more Indian companies off the Entities List and lifting export controls.
On why neither Agra nor Amritsar were part of the President’s itinerary, officials said time was a constraint. “We wanted to have an event where we could celebrate in some fashion Diwali with Indian young people, and why we wanted to ensure that we had a culture stop in Delhi, in this instance visiting a tomb that has served as a precursor to the Taj Mahal,” officials said, referring to the visit to Humayun’s Tomb.
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On security threats to the President in India, officials said: ‘We think that India is a strong and safe and resilient country, with effective counter-terrorism.”
On whether Kashmir would be discussed, William Burns was clear there was no zero-sum game between US ally Pakistan and its relationship with India. “We believe a positive relationship between the US and Pakistan, a deepening relationship between the US and Pakistan, does not in any way, shape or form have to be seen through a zero-sum lens as it relates to India. We want to take the US-Indian relationship to a new level on this visit. We want to expand cooperation on economic issues, but also on security cooperation, counter-terrorism and military ties, cooperation on issues like clean energy and, again, as the world’s two largest democracies, working together both bilaterally and also around the world.”
In India, the speculation has been that the US might endorse India’s elevation to permanent membership of the UN Security Council. However, US officials were cautious on any such commitment. “The United States recognises the significance of looking at ways to adapt international architecture, including the UN Security Council, to reflect the realities of the 21st century. We want to approach that challenge in a way that ensures the effectiveness — and, hopefully, strengthens the effectiveness — of the Security Council. Given India’s rise and its significance, we believe that India will be a central part of any consideration of a reformed Security Council.”