America knows what is in its interest, we have made our choice. It is time for New Delhi to take a call, says American Vice President Joseph Biden
US Vice President Joseph Biden addresses a gathering of Indian businessmen
at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai on Wednesday. |
MUMBAI : Clearly outlining American interests, intentions and strategic investments in East Asia and Af-Pak region, visiting US Vice President Joseph Biden on Wednesday invited India to play larger role on strategic and economic front.
Biden said, “If both India and America make ‘right choice’ by removing trade barriers and inconsistencies in tax regime, the bilateral trade between the countries can reach to $500 bn. The bilateral trade has increased five-fold to touch $100 bn in the past 13 years. He praised the benefits of Indian human capital that America has reaped in past several years. He was addressing a gathering at focused on ‘US-India Partnership’ at the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Biden said, President Obama has invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in September to discuss the way forward for strategic bilateral ties.
“The world has changed strategically and economically. Washington would like New Delhi to see how we can work together and grow together. I can see no logical impediments in terms of developing our relationship for our shared and individual interests”, Biden said.
However, Biden left it for the leadership in New Delhi to take a call on American invitation to play important role in the ever changing global security and economic dynamics, saying, the choice is not ours, but it is for India to decide. President Obama did not send me here to lecture or to suggest what is in India’s interest. It is for you to decide what is in your interest. We know what is in America’s interest. We believe that a powerful, growing and a vibrant Indian economy is in our interest. He also supported New Delhi’s claim to a permanent seat in a revamped United Nations Security Council.
With a hope to bridge the gulf between the two nations’ visions and the present global reality, Biden said, “There remains a gap between what we are doing and what we are capable of without impacting each of our nation’s sovereign decision in any manner and without compromising each of our government’s capability to decide what course of actions we should take”.
Elaborating on America’s game of ‘rebalancing’ in East Asia, Biden praised New Delhi’s ‘Look East’ policy and said, “Ten years ago some might have suggested not including India in strategic calculation on East Asia, but today, New Delhi has become an indispensible part in the game of rebalancing in the Asia Pacific….To us that is welcome news, we encourage it.” The indications are clear for New Delhi to seize and play a larger role in regional security.
Biden praised New Delhi’s contribution in Afghanistan. He re-affirmed that America is in favour of Afghan-led process, but with three outcomes i.e. Taliban must break with Al-Qaeda, immediately stop violence and accept the Afghan constitution, and equal treatment for women. In the same speech Biden welcomed new outreach between Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Indian PM Manmohan Singh, saying relations between India-Pakistan is not Washington’s place to dictate. America’s relation will not be defined by New Delhi’s relation with Islamabad.
