India foreign policy could stumble despite Modi's efforts

WHEN Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared during his speech to the combined houses of Congress at Capitol Hill in Washington last week that India and the US had "overcome the hesitations of history", he was voicing confidence that a corner had been turned in Indo-US relations. In his fourth visit to the US (and seventh meeting with President Barack Obama) in his two years in power, he formalised the new understanding that is now being put into place.

There were three major agreements on the anvil. The first was the final touches to the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in 2009. This would have three components: India's nuclear plant operator and the US vendor Westinghouse would now begin initial work on the construction of six nuclear reactors of 1000 MW each in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Two related components of this agreement would see India become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), if all the present 44 members agreed, and would also become part of the Missile Technology Control Regime that plays an important part in deciding which country has access to the technology.

The second major area is defence. Washington will give Delhi, designated a "major defence partner", the same access to defence technologies that it grants America's closest allies and partners. In another first, Mr Obama has also committed US support for Mr Modi's dream "Make in India" projects in the defence sector to help modernise India's arms industry. Apart from this, the two sides completed negotiations on "mutual logistics support". Another important win for India is the collaboration on fighting terrorism. In his speech to the US Congress, Mr Modi said: "In the territory stretching from West of India's border to Africa, it may go by different names, from Lashkar-e-Taiba, to Taliban to ISIS. But, its philosophy is common: of hate, murder and violence." By equating the Lashkar-e-Taiba with ISIS, he put what was largely a problem in India with an international network that directly threatens the West, and received support where none was earlier given.