U.S. must pursue close ties with ‘Global Swing State’ India: Experts.

CONNAUGHT PLACE, India - Sept. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Samarth Pathak/New Delhi/September 17, 2013: It is imperative that Washington builds on the fast-expanding canvas of strategic bilateral engagements with New Delhi, geopolitical experts recommended at a session on ‘Global Swing States: India and the International Order’ hosted by Aspen Institute India (AII) and the German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the U.S. yesterday.

The theme was based on a recent report, ‘Global Swing States: India and the International Order,’ authored by Dr. Daniel M. Kliman, Senior Advisor, GMF-U.S. and Mr. Richard Fontaine, Center for a New American Security. The report focuses on how India-along with Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey-will decisively influencethe trajectory of the current international order.

With the rise of China, stagnating multilateral trade talks and a weakened global financial infrastructure, the international order that had helped ensure peace and prosperity for much of the past six decades confronts numerous challenges today. Raising these concerns, Dr. Kliman underscored the potential for India--with its large and growing economy, its strategic location, and its commitment to democratic institutions—in influencing the future international order.

   “The current international system is under strain, especially due to fiscal pressures in the U.S. and Europe. The role of India is pivotal in the strengthening the international order. It is crucial for the U.S. to deepen ties with India in the form of stronger bilateral and strategic alliances,” asserted Dr. Kliman, while highlighting a few observations from the report. “There are several bilateral opportunities on this front. India’s role in furthering development cooperation is one area where we can expand our engagements, especially in terms of institutional building and infrastructure development.  In the maritime arena, opportunities also exist in sectors of industrial defence cooperation and joint exercises. The report also focusses on the need for the U.S. to increase resources involving projects related to India.”

Putting forth the Indian perspective on the report, Ambassador Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary of India, offered a critique on some of the recommendations, saying, “The presumption in the report is that the existing international order is perfect, and requires slight modifications and changes. In reality, however, this is not the case. I feel the order is highly dominated by the Western powers. For instance, the World Bank and the IMF will continue to be dominated by the West, because the quota system for veto is designed as such. In terms of maritime order, the U.S. is not a party to the Law of the Sea, which is a problem. The issue to terrorism and religious extremism is also not accorded focus in the report.”

“The question is whether management of the existing order should be based on sovereignty? Should it not be based on non-interference of internal matters of States, and be clear against unilateral action?” pointed out Ambassador Sibal.

The report adopted a set of criteria to identify India—along with Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey-- as a ‘global swing state.’ These comprised a large and growing economy; a central geographical position; a strong democratic polity; and mixed political opinions about the existing international order. The report makes a case for how a strong and concerted U.S. engagement with these pivotal powers can bolster peace, prosperity and freedom.

For more information please contact:

Mr Samarth Pathak

Aspen Institute India

Cellphone: +91-9811347927

Email: samarth.pathak@aspenindia.org