Why USA is upset & India distrusts Americans

Why USA is upset & India distrusts Americans

History:

When India became the world’s newest and largest democracy in 1947, its relations with the U.S., the world’s most powerful democracy, should by all accounts have been friendly. Both countries subscribed on paper to the same set of values—a commitment to a rules-based international order, a belief in free and fair elections, the rule of law, civil liberties, and free speech. Yet time and again, they saw things through very different lenses, misunderstanding each other’s goals in the process, ultimately leading to periods where they worked at odds with one another. New disputes emerged frequently due to their conflicting “interests”.

John Foster Dulles, Dwight Eisenhower’s secretary of state, thought nonalignment was downright immoral. For their part, Indian leaders found the moral overtones of U.S. foreign policy, seemingly driven by a “You’re either with us or against us” ultimatum, an affront to their country’s sovereignty. Such attitude edged India closer to the Soviet Union, despite India’s professed nonalignment. America’s transactional approach to aid, when India was struggling with economic issues also disappointed Indians. Some American lawmakers felt that any country receiving American aid should show gratitude and were irritated that India had not supported American positions at the United Nations on Israel and the Korean War. Washington was more closely allied to Islamabad during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan that led to the founding of Bangladesh.

Since the Cold War era, Pakistan has been under a constant American umbrella. In fact, Pakistan enjoys the status of the United States’ major non-NATO ally. During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, America supplied Pakistan with military hardware. It was the USA that supplied Pakistan with top-notch M-60 Patton tanks that were far superior to their Indian counterparts. Even during the 1971 war, self-proclaimed human rights champion America ignored and even aided the Bangladeshi genocide by the Pakistan army. The Pakistani army slaughtered 3 million Bengalis and raped around 400,000. In fact, Pakistani President Gen. Yahya Khan gave clear instructions to his troops to conduct genocide. Even recently, despite repeated objections from India, the USA approved the F-16 upgrade program for Pakistan. This comes as America refers to India as a long-term strategic partner. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar raised this issue and reminded America of its hypocrisy during his US visit. Dr. Jaishankar categorically stated that the USA isn’t fooling anyone but itself with these tactics.

In 1974, when India carried out its inaugural nuclear-weapons test, the U.S. cut off fuel deliveries to India’s first nuclear-power station as punishment. Indian authorities, particularly the atomic-energy agency, began to see the U.S. as unreliable and unconcerned about India’s security needs and India was unimportant, except as a frontline state to contain China and the spread of communism, and its constant requirement for aid in those early years muted its power on the world stage.

As a result of all these factors, India came to rely heavily on the Soviet Union for its military equipment. The Pentagon, suspicious of the Indo-Soviet relationship, refused to sell India sophisticated weapons or computers and continued to strengthen Pakistan’s military. Nor would the U.S. permit India, which was keen to be an independent actor, to manufacture arms domestically through joint ventures or cooperation agreements.

Soviets were more accommodating to India’s goals and soon became the country’s primary arms supplier. India has long worried about its military dependence on Moscow, but it has made recent moves to diversify its suppliers like France due to indifferent attitude of USA’s policy makers.

It?has been a ritual for decades. Whenever American policymakers travel to India, they sing paeans to the beauty of Indian politics, to the country’s diversity, and to the shared values connecting—in the words of multiple U.S. presidents—“the world’s oldest democracy” and “the world’s largest democracy.”

“America has no permanent friends or foes, only interests.” “To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal”– Henry A. Kissinger.

Why US is upset with India

The economic & military rise of India is not being liked by China but also USA which pretends to be a friend, but is not happy with India because it has openly refused to tow its line with respect to Russia Ukraine Conflict but also on many international issues. India will not break its long time tested friendship with Russia in order to appease Western Countries.

A major problem has started with unilateral American & European sanctions on Russia, which India has rejected point blank. They had placed similar sanctions on India when it had carried out a nuclear test in 1998. As per India, issue is total violations of American & European’s sanction on import of oil from Russia which would have disrupted economic growth post Covid.

The US simply cannot tolerate the rise of India in the energy geo-economics especially when it is built on a partnership with Russia wherein India is currently buying 1,700,000 million barrels of Russian oil daily at around $47 per barrel (discounted price) and exporting processed diesel at much higher price earning exports of $ 70 billion.

One reason for the US to get upset is that India is securing its sea route through the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ bases which can be used for global supply chain as well as naval military purposes. But what worries the Americans the most is the next step wherein India is likely to join other BRICS nations to implement the ‘mBridge’ platform for international hydrocarbon trade, potential threat to Petrodollar and eventually Dedollarisation.

Another major issue for USA is Dedollarisation of international trade by India. India is actively entering in to bilateral trade in local currencies and avoiding Dollar which could be the death knell for the US Dollar and enormous privilege that US economy enjoys due to the hegemony of the Dollar. The idea of moving international trade away from the US Dollar is spreading fast. The American chairmanship of the Oil, Arms and Pharma mafia is tumbling like a pack of cards.

Threat to US Dollar as Reserve Currency: With rising Debt, reduced Petrodollar, accelerating Dedollarisation and many countries (like China, Russia & India) reluctant to buy US Treasury and reducing their holdings of US Treasuries due to fear of sanctions (including boycott in SWIFT), USA is finding it difficult to fund widening deficits, there are murmurs that US Dollar may lose status as world’s Reserve Currency and stop enjoying hegemonic power to fund their future Wars.

Waning of America’s Hegemonic power:

Even before the outbreak of the global Covid pandemic, it was widely recognized that the American hegemony had been in irreversible decline.?Since then, the pace of hegemonic decline has accelerated. This has hastened with USA’s ignominious exit from Afghanistan and inability to handle Ukraine War. Americans (Think tanks, establishment & law makers) are living in denial of this trend whereas major independent research are voicing their concerns and are talking of world moving towards multi polar world.

A policy that does not respect that India does not need lessons in how to run its domestic affairs could push New Delhi to close ranks with other countries against the U.S. India has openly refused to listen to USA warnings, threats, cajoling, visa delays (to students & families) and then outright pleadings to stop arms imports from Russia. India has made it clear that it will buy arms and equipment from wherever it wishes. Each case will be decided by India alone purely as commercial deals. No wonder a few Senators, Congressmen & senior administration officials have been acting in most idiotic manner and throwing tantrums & giving open threats, hoping that India will listen to their ranting.

Various American agencies have been trying all their dirty tricks to pressurize India by discrediting India. There have been motivated articles in their mainstream media (like NYT, WaPo, BBC etc.) as well as some so called Researchers have been giving “low ranks” to India in Press Freedom, Happiness Index etc. What’s the credibility of such Index when they rank Pakistan as higher than India as regards “freedom”? The BBC story and the Adani Issue are only few attempts to derail India.

Americans have never really understood India

The two democratic countries conceptually seem destined to be partners, yet for decades have held divergent worldviews.

For more than a decade, the U.S. has sought to build a strategic partnership with India, and the two countries have much in common, including their democratic political systems and their shared concern over China’s rise. USA & India—two countries that conceptually seem destined to be partners—have for decades held remarkably divergent worldviews, finding themselves all too often pursuing conflicting objectives.

Several high-level Western envoys have been dispatched to New Delhi to persuade Indian authorities to join the global coalition against Russia, while Moscow has courted the country in the hopes that it will hold firm. Biden stepped up the pressure during virtual talks with PM Modi and has publicly called India’s response “shaky,” making clear that he is frustrated by India’s intransigence.

Experts have largely attributed India’s unwillingness to turn against Russia to its reliance on Moscow for military equipments and energy exports. India’s dependency on Moscow for weapons has proved difficult to overcome. With two hostile nuclear-armed states (Pakistan & China) on its border, India is not in a position to jettison its relationship with Russia, which has not been appreciated by American policy makers.

By 2000, India’s economic reforms had propelled growth, which, combined with the country’s military strength and nuclear capability, made it an attractive counter to China’s rise.

US-India relations improved further when Modi was elected India’s PM in 2014 as he made good relations with the U.S. a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

The Ukraine crisis has challenged this partnership by altering the world’s geopolitical landscape. India had in recent years converged with the U.S. on the need to contain China and disputes along the India’ border flare up regularly post 2020.

Given these short-term security calculations and the longer-term legacy of distrust between the U.S. and India, what sort of partnership can Washington realistically expect from New Delhi?

Even as India grew closer to the U.S., Indian officials rebranded nonalignment as “strategic autonomy” and the core objective of this policy is to “give India maximum options in its relations with the outside world.”

U.S. foreign policy has long?sought?to prevent any single power from dominating the Eurasian landmass, home to the majority of the world’s population and economic output. While there is no danger of this happening any time soon, U.S. foreign policy has recently alienated both friends and independent-minded allies such as?Saudi Arabia,?France, and?Brazil.

American foreign policy has been described by an expert as being “a bit lonely”, “as those who seem much less on the right side of history are increasingly banding together in a whole range of structures”, as punch line describes it as ‘What we get from China is an airport. What we get from the United States is a lecture.”

U.S. foreign policy establishment clings to the notion that the United States is leading countries toward the right side of history, which presumably means a post-nationalist global order based on shared values and free trade. This notion will increasingly alienate India, a country that Washington has long sought to cultivate as a partner in balancing against China, particularly through initiatives such as QUAD.

As per S. Jayihanker, notion of “a universal and invincible globalized order led by the U.S.” was merely “a transient moment of American unipolarity,” and that the idea of an “end of history” was an “arrogant assertion of an era of hubris” based on a “Eurocentric analysis.” The reason for the return of history is nationalism, the result of which is an India that can approach the world with more confidence and realism.

Why India distrusts Americans

Americans (intellectuals, think tanks & policy makers) have moved from “human rights” & “religious freedom” to wild documentaries (demonising India) and even attacking Indian businesses (through market manipulation) & politicians (calling them as Hindu nationalists, without realising that India has 82% Hindus and they have democratic rights to choose their way of life, which may not suit liberals & intellectuals from USA & Europe).

There is a deep divergence between the USA & India on both geopolitical questions and values in general. The more the USA tries to get India to align with its positions on these matters, the further away USA will push India. India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest growing major economy, home to a powerful army &?navy (which can really counter Chinese aggression, on its own) and the world’s most?populous?nation, does not want to play?second fiddle?to the U.S. or be pressured to accept Western?positions?on global warming (selective approach of avoiding talking of per capita emissions), trade, Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, or any other matter that West want to dictate. India, like many other countries outside of the West, does not accept the American’s?framework?of the world being divided into competing blocs of democracies and autocracies.

In a recent survey, Indians rated the USA as the?2nd greatest?military threat to their country after China and this perception is not being driven by measured analyses of Asian geopolitics, but by the view of the Indian street that American society and their media simply do not “get” India, and may inadvertently be trying to weaken the Indian state by spreading disinformation campaign through Think tanks & NGOs (George Soros etc.). According to Jaishankar, the West is not as comfortable with nationalism as India & other Asian country are and often fails to understand how its policies, even on relatively minute issues, like membership in international bodies (UNSC) could alienate the Indian public. Denial of place in UNSC would make UN as redundant body to play any meaningful role in future tensions and Ukraine conflict is the proof of that.

Indian and American societies interpret many values differently such as “freedom of speech” as both the formal and social boundaries of this freedom is different in the two democracies and Americans have to realise that and accept this reality. India is more likely than the USA to emphasize traditional values over personal autonomy, and this is reflected in legislation and social mores. But U.S. foreign policy continues to be?values-based and this may cause friction with India and lead to a perception that the U.S. is trying to interfere in India’s domestic politics and social norms. U.S. positions on Ukraine and Russia, as well as?criticism?of domestic developments in India — such as opposition MP Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion from parliament (the Law enacted by his own party), all continue to alienate India from USA.

America itself has a lot of work to do on its internal issues like racism, gun violence, and hate crimes.

India sees itself as an ancient civilization with a broad influence that is reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage, interacting with other countries as per its interests, and as a country that does not need lessons in how to run its domestic affairs from any other power, whether it’s Americans, Europeans, Chinese or Islamists. An American foreign policy that does not respect this risks pushing India away and could contribute to India joining other countries to close ranks against the U.S. in a variety of economic and geopolitical ways.

The visa denial to Indians policy has become a form of collective punishment imposed in retaliation for India not following the Victoria Nuland’s way on S-400 or Ukraine, a path that is leading to trade disruptions. In multiple ways, people to people contact between the two largest democracies on the globe is being nuked, even while US visas are available as easily as buying an ice cream cone in Beijing. A Communist Chinese citizen can get a visa for travel to the US in 2-3 days, but a citizen of India has to wait 2 to 3 years for purpose of vising their children. This has been explained away by Secretary of State Antony Blinken as being the consequence of “staffing cuts” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic but “staffing cuts” applies only in India and not in China. Indians understands this and have long memory for such attitude.

Those in the US Congress, think tanks and White House who are genuinely seeking a US-India security and defense partnership that would keep the Indo-Pacific free of attempted Chinese hegemony need to make themselves aware that partnership can be between equals and those who have mutual respect.

From the so-called?“rising intolerance”?to India’s stance on the Kashmir issue, the USA left no stone unturned to censure India. Recently, Indian Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar raised this issue of unwarranted statements by the White House on India’s internal affairs. In his tit-for-tat response, Dr. Jaishankar raised India’s concerns against rising hate crimes and intolerance in America. Even during the initial phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, the US lectured India on its oil imports from Russia and even threatening with sanctions. Giving a blind eye to Chinese & European energy imports from Russia, the US singled out India as the only country funding Russia. It was a way to punish India for buying oil from Russia. This was done to shift the blame for its own incompetence in uniting its own NATO allies or their incompetence to impose sanctions on China against Russian energy exports. But India stood its ground, affirmed its stance, and even made the US smell its own hypocrisy.

Washington and New Delhi Share Interests, Not Values

Even after the Cold War ended and India began strengthening its relations with the United States, New Delhi maintained strong connections to the Kremlin. It has refused to work with the United States on Iran, and it has made nice with Myanmar’s military regime. Most recently, it has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

If making democratic values the cornerstone of the U.S.-Indian relationship has always been a dubious strategy, today it is clearly doomed—because the very notion of common values has itself come to look fanciful. Ever since Modi became the Indian prime minister 9 years ago, India’s status as a democracy has become increasingly “suspect” in the minds of westerners. The “world’s largest democracy” has seen an upsurge in violence directed at its Muslim minority, often whipped up by prominent politicians & west funded NGOs.?

Yet even as the two countries’ shared values have grown weaker, their shared material interests have only gotten stronger. India and the?United States?now have a clear, common geopolitical foe in China, and each understands that the other can help it win its competition against Beijing. For the United States, India is a massive, pivotal power in Asia that sits astride critical maritime routes and shares a long, contested land border with China. For India, the United States is an attractive source of advanced technology, education, and investment. New Delhi may still have close ties with Moscow, but the uncertain quality and reliability of Russian arms mean?that India is more open than ever to buying weapons from the West instead. Greater U.S.-Indian alignment on China also means the two states could cooperate on certain kinds of technology.

Shortly before Russia’s February 2022?invasion of Ukraine, India went ahead with purchases of Russian S-400 air defense systems, despite the threat of U.S. sanctions. Since the invasion, India has abstained on every decisive?UN?vote. It has refused to entertain any economic restrictions against Russia. It even began purchasing more Russian energy after the invasion began.?

US must remain keenly aware that India’s desire to work with the United States is born of circumstance, not conviction, and could quickly disappear.

Many Indian policymakers and analysts would very much prefer a multipolar world in which India is free to navigate flexible relationships with other great powers to a world led by USA or defined by a new cold war between China and USA—a world in which New Delhi must take sides. One of New Delhi’s greatest fears is being indefinitely consigned to the?geopolitical?sidelines.

Why & How the US Is Pushing India Away

A policy that does not respect that India does not need lessons in how to run its domestic affairs could push New Delhi to close ranks with other countries against the U.S. The foreign policy of the United States is not adapting to the challenges of contemporary geopolitical trends throughout the world. In seeking to push for international alignment with its economic and security goals, U.S. policy has instead become counterproductive. U.S. foreign policy has long?sought?to prevent any single power from dominating the Eurasian landmass, home to the majority of the world’s population and economic output. While there is no danger of this happening any time soon, U.S. foreign policy has recently alienated both friends and independent-minded allies such as?Saudi Arabia,?France, and?Brazil.

The worldview of the U.S. foreign policy establishment more closely resembles a legal court, where rules are enforced, and lawbreakers punished in order to encourage compliance from other actors but diplomacy has traditionally been characterized by compromise and the pursuit of national interests.

US foreign policy clings to the notion that the United States is leading countries toward the right side of history, which means a post-nationalist global order based on shared values and free trade.

As per India’s FM Jaishankar, notion of “a universal and invincible globalized order led by the U.S.” was merely “a transient moment of American unipolarity,” and that the idea of an “end of history” was an “arrogant assertion of an era of hubris” based on a “Eurocentric analysis.” There is a deep divergence between the United States and India on both geopolitical questions and values in general. The more the United States tries to get India to align with its positions on these matters, the further away Washington will push India.

Conclusions:

The USA has a long history of ditching its allies in times of need. India must remain cautious while dealing with America. It’s true, to a certain extent, that India needs the US’s support while dealing with China and Pakistan. But it is also a fact that over-dependence on the US is something India should be wary of. Currently, it’s best for India’s interest to reap benefits from America’s technology and resources to build its own capabilities in dealing with major foe China. Ultimately, India has to stand on its own two feet, but until then, it has to bide its time. India shouldn’t forget that China became the United States’ adversary only because it challenged its superpower status.

Today, America needs India to curb China’s growing influence in the region and maintain its hegemony. But when India rises to the level where it threatens US dominance, it will turn against India. By all estimates, India’s rise as a global power is inevitable. The USA is aware of the fact that it’s just a matter of time before India overtakes the US economy. That’s the reason why America keeps on nurturing Pakistan so that it can use it to counterbalance India. So, India should learn from history and exploit this limited window to prepare for that day. Moreover, India should avoid keeping all its eggs in one basket and should improve ties with different global powers. Instead of a unipolar or bipolar world, India should strive for a multipolar world. We may be looking at a Global Order where no one can exercise sole supremacy over another and all nations are kept in check.

India, of course, is not China, and it may never pose the same sort of challenge to USA. Americans and Indians can, and should, hold out hope that India’s diverse society will remake India into a liberal democracy more fundamentally aligned with the ideals that Washington seeks to uphold.

CA Harshad Shah, Mumbai [email protected]