NEW DELHI — By endorsing India for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, President Obama on Monday signaled the United States’ intention to create a deeper partnership of the world’s two largest democracies that would expand commercial ties and check the influence of China.
Obama’s announcement, made during a nationally televised address to the Indian Parliament, came at the end of a three-day visit to India that won high marks from an Indian political establishment once uncertain of the president’s commitment to the relationship. Even as stark differences remained between the two countries on a range of tough issues, including Pakistan, trade policy, climate change and, to some degree, Iran, Obama spoke of India as an “indispensable” partner for the coming century.
“In Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging,” he said. “India has emerged.”
Obama’s closer embrace of India prompted a sharp warning from Pakistan, India’s rival and an uncertain U.S. ally, which criticized the two countries for engaging in “power politics” that lack a moral foundation.
It is also likely to set off fresh concerns in Beijing, which has had a contentious relationship with India and has expressed alarm at American efforts to tighten alliances with Asian nations wary of China’s rising power. But warmer ties between the United States and India come at a crucial time for Obama. He and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are headed to South Korea later this week for a meeting of the Group of 20, apparently in agreement on what is expected to be a significant clash between the world’s big powers over the U.S. Federal Reserve’s plan to boost the American economy by pumping in $600 billion.
China, Brazil and Germany have sharply criticized the move by the Fed, which they see as designed to push down the value of the dollar to boost American exports. (NYT)