Unlike Australia And Britain, India’s Ties With USA Is Based On Equality And Friendship
US President Donald Trump travelled to Texas on Sunday to attend an event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was their third meeting. Later the same day, Trump joined in Ohio with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This is a clear indicator that the US attaches importance to advancing relations with both India and Australia. Though China may view it as indicative of efforts by the American superpower to reinforce its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Trump will certainly have a discussion with Prime Minister of India and Australia on intensifying the Indo-Pacific cooperation and boosting bilateral ties with the two countries. Trump may also try and discuss the current tensions in South Asia with Modi but will surely be told politely to lay off. India’s revocation of the special status to Indian State Jammu & Kashmir is totally an internal affair of India. Any other country having any itch on this issue will have to look for a suitable medical remedy elsewhere.. Yes all trade issues and investment may also be discussed at the bilateral meetings. Most important thing which will certainly be discussed is the freedom of navigation in Seas encircled by China, Countries if South East Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Koreas and the Philippines.
Amid the trade war between USA and China, both side will certainly need support and the backing of other countries, especially its allies and partners, in order to mount its leverage against the other. In the backdrop of the China-US rivalry, Washington hopes New Delhi and Canberra can side with it. These two Indo-Pacific countries have their own considerations but they may support the US in many aspects.. However, as a traditional ally, Canberra may lean more toward Washington but India will not support the USA blindly.
The Trump administration began using the term “Indo-Pacific” since November 2017 as its regional strategy for close cooperation among Japan, India, Australia and the US. Washington began paying attention to the ties with two of the core countries to cement the Indo-Pacific strategy. This will put more pressure on China and it will have to seek friendship with the Countries of the region to develop its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
China will have to strengthen relations with countries in its periphery so as to hedge against attempts at containment by the US.
The US has long been wooing India to contain China because of India’s strategic location, size, population, rising economy and military might. Due to various actions of China both the US and India have felt threatened by China, leading the two countries to get closer. Washington-New Delhi ties are improving but at its own pace. India is not a Camp Follower and so will not be in agreement with every view of the USA.
whereas as a US ally, Australia lacks diplomatic independence and tends to rely on the US. In this context, Canberra has proactively responded to Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy. However, India is different. New Delhi will certainly align with Japan, Australia and Washington on Indo-Pacific strategy to ensure full freedom and cooperation in the area ; though at the same time she will maintain its status as an independent power. Therefore, India will not go for any military block against China or any other Country.
Canberra also knows fully well that in the foreseeable future it will have to depend more on the Indian Naval Power than on America. However there is not much divergence between India and Australia on this issue. In fact till now Australia was not joining India, so as to avoid annoying China.
Australia has been a close ally of the US and there is not much room for further development. But there seems a lot to do with India, which is following a balanced strategy and having frequent interactions with other powers such as China, Russia and the US on equal basis. To reinforce its Indo-Pacific strategy, Washington will make efforts to achieve more solid ties with India and Australia should certainly do so.
