This refers to Sanjaya Baru’s interesting article titled “P2P+B2B+G2G=C2C” (November 8). Furthering economic relationships between countries or cultures leads to a better contact among people, governments and, ultimately, countries. History provides several such examples. The Indus Valley civilisation had close economic ties with the Sumerians; the Cholas had close trade ties with South East Asian countries and that eventually led to a close people-to-people contact. It is not surprising that US President Barack Obama chose to first visit India’s financial capital Mumbai. It has essentially been a business visit. In his so-called “dual use” speech to Mumbai business barons, he sought to assuage detractors at home by hunting for jobs in India and mollified the Indians by announcing an export curbs lifting. It was only after sealing humongous business deals involving GE, Boeing and so on that he proceeded to New Delhi, to make some right noises about India’s permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and Pakistan’s hand in cross-border terrorism.
Let’s face it. The US’ role as a global gendarme is threatened both from internal factors and external geo-politics. The country is facing internal challenges in the form of a shaky economy and uncomfortable unemployment rates. On the external front, its clout has been overshadowed by the likes of China. Therefore, it has realised that to reclaim the numero uno status, it has to shine economically. So the economic significance of Obama’s trip cannot be over emphasised, from the American viewpoint. Also, by cementing its ties with India, the US is countervailing China’s rising hegemony in the region.
Dushyant Singh Panwar, New Delhi
