Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has more than one reason to push for strong US ties

Modi and Obama at the G20 summitPrime Minister Narendra Modi made the first move on his Republic Day invitation to Barack Obama over the telephone just before leaving for Myanmar and Australia. The idea had barely incubated by then but Modi did not want to lose time and made the pitch just as the two leaders discussed the breakthrough in the impasse over the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The US President showed keen interest, but asked for time to respond.This was quite different from the first few months of his Government when there was an intense debate on whether Modi should travel to the US in September given the controversial backdrop of the visa issue. The PM, of course, not only did visit, but went the distance to show intent in taking the relationship to a new level.During the visit, Modi assured Obama that India would not stand in the way of the TFA at the WTO, and soon a deal was worked out, with the US dropping its insistence on a specific deadline. So at Nay Pyi Taw, on the margins of the East Asia Summit, Obama reached out to Modi, gave him a hug and said he was a "man of action". But there was no word on the Republic Day invitation.At the informal setting of the G20 summit in Brisbane, Modi broached the subject again. It all started with a chat between Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott on urban architect and planner Walter Burley Griffin, the man who built Canberra and designed many colonial-era buildings in Lucknow, including the impressive university edifice. Obama was drawn into the conversation when Modi mentioned that Griffin was born in Chicago and, according to insiders, as Abbott pealed off, the PM nudged Obama on the invitation again.His reaction was positive, with US officials later conveying that they had to just ensure there was no clash with the State of the Union address. The confirmation came after Modi landed back in Delhi and soon, the formal invitation was sent. Less known is the fact that Modi had latched on to the Chicago factoid about Griffin when officials were briefing him before the Brisbane meeting. He even remarked that he could use this to strike a conversation with Obama.Clearly, the US has preoccupied Modi's mind, and for good reason. To begin with, a strong relationship with the US infects global economic sentiment in ways that makes it easier to do business with other economic powerhouses such as Germany, Japan and even Australia. More importantly, this sentiment also impacts investor decisions globally, which is crucial to Modi's economic agenda.Beyond economics, the US would be key to how Modi deals with his problem areas, particularly Pakistan. Given the strident line that his Government has adopted on Pakistan so far, New Delhi cannot afford Washington to be ambivalent in its stance, say, in case of a terrorist attack or on the Kashmir issue. A lack of momentum in the India-US relationship could easily push Washington to its old cumbersome positions on these issues.The same applies to China, especially when it comes to collaborating on the world stage. Indeed, Beijing has shown the way here by cutting a bilateral deal with the US on climate change and agreeing to 2030 as its peak emissions year, burying, in the process, the grand BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) strategy that the UPA had embraced. India has to now cut a deal, and soon, on reducing the rate of growth of the thermal component in its energy mix, may be even agree to setting targets.One way of meeting such targets would be to increase the share of non-conventional energy, a move that will push civil nuclear energy back to the political centre stage. Modi's ability to bring comfort on the nuclear liability issue will be a critical milestone in the relationship with America. It would achieve three key objectives in one shot: raise the profile of the India-US relationship, strengthen investor confidence in the Modi Government and make India a collaborator on climate change, just like China.To the US, Modi offers an opportunity to play itself back in Asia after the grand 'pivot to Asia' failed to deliver expected dividends, a fact symbolised by Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel's exit from office, and the weakening resonance of this strategy among key ASEAN members.It's this strategic convergence that throws up possibilities, one that is far removed from Obama's domestic standing. Bill Clinton was at his lowest ebb when he undertook the gamechanging India visit in 2000. In 2006, George W. Bush, despite his waning popularity, pushed the Congress to reconcile the Hyde Act during a lame duck session. So, much as Obama fights a downslide at home, it doesn't dilute the strategic opportunity for India, one which Modi must leverage, just like his predecessors did.Follow the writer on Twitter @pranabsamantaTo read more, get your copy of India Today here.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 27, 2014 22:29 IST--- ENDS ---

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has more than one reason to push for strong US ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has more than one reason to push for strong US ties.

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