JOIN USUnlike his previous trips that had more fluff than content, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US – his fourth since assuming office in 2014 – culminated in some important takeaways. This was an important visit not only because it is probably the last one-on-one official interaction between Modi and US President Barack Obama before the latter demits office and a new President takes charge in Washington, but also the visit came on the eve of a key meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) where India’s membership of the body is to be discussed. The US strongly endorsed India’s admission to the NSG during Modi’s visit. Whether this and the announcement of India’s impending entry to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) will convince obstructionists among NSG members remains to be seen. Still, it is a strong and welcome sign of support. During Modi’s visit, the two sides took an important step forward on civilian nuclear cooperation. India has agreed to buy six nuclear reactors from Westinghouse.
Preparatory work onsite in India is to begin soon and a deal on contractual arrangements is to be signed in a year. This is the first India-US deal to flow from the civilian nuclear accord that the two countries signed over a decade ago and the two sides made progress in closing that deal during Modi’s visit.
A joint statement issued at the end of the prime minister’s visit refers to India as a “major defence partner” of the US. This means the US could share technology with India “to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners.” It could pave the
way for India to gain licence-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies. Talks between Modi and Obama are said to have helped iron out differences relating to
defence logistics, sharing of maritime information etc. With the text having been finalised, the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) can be expected soon.
The signing of key India-US agreements are in the horizon. Their content has not been put in the public domain. While security concerns may underlie this reluctance to publicise the text, the lack of transparency will raise doubts over whether the agreements will undermine India’s autonomy. Will India gains from them in the long run? The government must take opposition parties into confidence and discuss the text of the agreements threadbare before signing them. By taking on board the opposition, Modi will strengthen India’s hand in the agreements with the US.