Modi charms US, sets agenda for dynamic global partnerships
There is a general sense of euphoria and a fresh wave of confidence among Indians, not just in the country but also overseas, thanks to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who has changed the dynamics of governance, of connecting with people, of reinvigorating foreign relations, etc. From his masterstroke of inviting Heads of State of SAARC countries (besides Mauritius) to his most talked-about visit to the United States, Narendra Modi is emerging as a global statesman and we believe that this enhanced stature will take the country to the next level in the comity of nations.
From his address at the United Nations General Assembly where he talked about the importance of coming together of nations to deal with the menace of terrorism, to has rock star performance at the Central Park in New York to the youth on channelising their energies, to the euphoric address at Madison Square Garden egging the Indian diaspora and US lawmakers to take note of the “New India,” and to the intense meetings with US business heads and finally the peak of all meetings with President Barack Obama, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had changed the image of India—an India brimming with confidence, an India with enormous talent, an India on the verge of becoming an economic powerhouse.
In this issue, we have a series of analyses by eminent individuals on the US visit of Modi. Starting with the analysis of Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd) who states that the impact of Modi’s visit would come a few months down the line as the ‘devil is in the detail’, but mentions how it peaked with the joint editorial of Modi-Obama in the Washington Post, highlighting the true potential of the relationship between the two countries and opportunities to broaden and deepen the same.
At the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister made a befitting address and we have General V.P. Malik (Retd) stating that this shows the pragmatic visionary Modi is not only for India and South Asia, but also at the global level. The international community will have to take greater notice of him hereafter, and more importantly, with that of India. Having raised expectations of his audience in the US and in India, the success of the road map depends upon the bureaucracies in both countries.
Defence cooperation is expected to go notches up after Modi’s visit. The two countries are entering into a new era of co-development and co-production that is going to transform the face of India-US defence relations from supplier-buyer to co-developer and coproducer, in line with the ‘Make in India’ vision of the Prime Minister. The vision statement for the US-India Strategic Partnership ‘Chalein Saath Saath: Forward We Go’ was the crowning glory of Modi’s visit. Reflecting this ‘Make in India’ vision, an MoU has been signed between Rockwell Collins of US and Zen Technologies of India to combine their strengths on simulation and training.
Having said that we have Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd), who does not mince words, states that if the ‘Make in India’ campaign has to succeed in the defence sector, a whole lot of reforms have to be effected among them being dismantling bureaucratic hurdles. We believe that the government under Modi’s leadership is earnest, pro-development and is laying emphasis on good governance.
‘May the Force be with you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’.