It is not mere politics that brings together two of the world's most powerful men together. US President Barack Obama supported India's candidature for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, as he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further boost bilateral ties. Addressing the media in a joint statement, Obama said it was natural for two of the biggest democracies to "deepen and broaden" their partnership. "I indicated support to India being a part of NSG", Obama said.
Both the leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including terrorism, clean energy, climate change, regional security, and cyber security. They also welcomed the beginning of preparatory work on six nuclear reactors in India. They said that India and the US Export-Import Bank intend to work together toward a competitive financing package for the project and will work to finalise contractual agreements by June 2017. "Once completed, the project would be among the largest of its kind, fulfilling the promise of the US-India civil nuclear agreement and demonstrating a shared commitment to meet India’s growing energy needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels," the joint statement said.
The current face of globalisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be set to hit a world record with his constant engagements with other countries. His ongoing 5-nation tour covering Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico has NaMo travelling for 140 hours, flying for nearly 44 hours, and covering almost 33,000 kilometres in just five days.
Modi eternalises ties with Afghanistan
Modi knocked at neighbour Afghanistan's door first as his plane landed on the foreign soil on June 4. Addressing people at the inauguration of the Rs 1700 Crore Afghan-India Friendship (Salma) Dam, along with President Ashraf Ghani, Modi promised extended cooperation to the country despite impending terrorist threats. The strategically sourced dam built on river Harirud in Herat province, will irrigate 75,000 hectares of land and generate 42 MW of power. "This dam has not been built by bricks and mortar, but by the faith of our friendship and the valour of Afghans and Indians," Modi said in his 25-minute speech. "Today we are not just launching a project that will irrigate land and light up homes. We are reviving a region, restoring hope, renewing life and redefining Afghanistan's future."
The dam is designed to irrigate fields in 640 villages in the districts of Chist-i-Sharif, Obe, Pashtun Zarghun, Karokh, Gozara, Injil, Zindjan, Kohsan and Ghoryan. It would also bring electricity to more than 2.5 lakh homes for the first time, in addition to powering Herat’s growing industrial needs, now powered by imports from neighbouring Iran and Turkmenistan.
He touched on several topics including the peace process in Afghanistan, the terrorist attack on the Indian consulate in the the same region, and reconstruction activities. "Our resources may be modest, but our will is boundless. For others, their commitments may have a sunset clause, but our relationship is timeless. We face barriers of geography and politics, but we define our path from clarity of our purpose," he said. The Prime Minister thanked Afghanistan’s security services for protecting Indians during the attack on the consulate. "They put themselves in the line of fire so that their Indian friends are safe," he said. "This is the nobility of your heart and the strength of your friendship."
Meanwhile, Ghani welcomed Modi to his "second home", Afghanistan, and said a "long standing dream" of the country was realised after 30 years with help from India. "Today, we come together to make eternal India Afghan ties and friendship. This dam will chart a new course of cooperation and prosperity," said Ghani adding "Our people identify India with roads, dams and over 200 small development projects." Modi was conferred with the Amir Amanullah Khan Award, the country's highest civilian honour, in recognition of India's constant support to Afghan for three consecutive governments.
"India is a land of opportunity"
NaMo's next stop was Qatar, a visit that made him the first Indian Prime Minister to visit four Gulf countries within the space of one year as per the external affairs ministry. The Indian leader reached Doha with the aim to boost econonmic ties between both the countries, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector.
According to the external affairs ministry, India's trade with the region is $112 billion, and its bilateral trade with Qatar is $10 billion. Qatar is also India's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier, providing 65 percent of India's LNG requirements. About 6,30,000 Indians live in Qatar. Modi hopes to make Qatar "an important economic partner", as described by the MEA. He met with business leaders at a round-table, and urged them to invest in India. "India is a land of opportunity. I have come to personally invite you to take advantage of this opportunity." He identified agro-processing, railways and solar energy as "promising areas" for Qatari investment. Appealing to the attendees, he said, "India's 800 million youth are its biggest strength," he said.
Modi also visited a gathering a Indian workers in Doha, addressed them, and assured he would present his concerns to the authorities. The Indian diaspora of over 6,30,000 form the largest expatriate community in Qatar and makes up for a substantial percentage of the country’s population. Atrocities on the migrants have been quite the news lately. "I am aware of the issues you are facing. I will talk about it when I meet the authorities. If you have some issues on changing some laws and regulations, I can assure you that I will work with you all to bring about these changes."
He held detailed talks with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on a range of bilateral issues as well as regional and international matters of mutual concern and also met with counterpart Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. A total of seven MoUs were signed between both the countries including those on money laundering, terrorism financing and other economic offences.
Swiss back India's NSG membership
Dropping by Geneva for a day-long visit, the visit ended on a high note as Modi convinced the Swiss support for India's membership to the elite 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group. Following a meet where both the leaders held comprehensive talks on various bilateral and global issues, President Johann Schneider-Ammann announced his country's support to India's membership in the NSG.
The country is a vital member of the group and its support was seen as crucial as China sang songs on the need for consensus given India was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "Switzerland welcomes India’s contributions to non-proliferation of nuclear arms. We have promised India support in its efforts to become a member of NSG," Schneider-Ammann said in a joint media address. Modi in return, thanked the President for the country's "understanding and support" for the membership. He also said combating the menace of black money and tax evasion was a "shared priority" between both the countries.
The host country also agreed to the "expeditious" and "automatic" exchange of information of money held illegally in Swiss banks through tax fraud and tax evasion by Indian nationals. The move will come into force in 2018. Scheider-Ammann said Switzerland will send its state secretary in the federal department of finance Jacques de Watteville to New Delhi next month to discuss the details for cooperation on the information-sharing framework.
"Switzerland will share information on a case-by-case basis," he said. Switzerland said it is ready to cooperate on fiscal and tax-related issues through an enhanced framework to tackle illegal funds. "Combating the menace of "black money" and tax evasion is also our shared priority," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, arguing that "an early start to negotiations on the Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Information would be important in this respect."
Modi reaches Washington
The PM arrived at the Joint Base Andrews after winding up his trip to Switzerland, where he was received by top officials including US Ambassador to India Richard Verma and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal. The leader has a jam-packed schedule including the address to a joint session of the US Congress. Modi visits the States for the fourth time, at the invitation of President and "friend" Barack Obama.
He started off his three-day tour by visiting the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' at the Arlington National Cemetery. The Arlington sarcophagus contain the remains of service members from the First and Second World Wars, and the Korea and Vietnam wars. He also paid tribute to astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman in space and her six crew members who died as the Columbia space shuttle flew apart while re-entering Earth's orbit on 1 February, 2003. After the wreath laying ceremony, Modi interacted with astronaut Sunita Williams and her father Deepak Pandya. Senior officials from Nasa also met the leader at the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial.
Later, he met with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch at Blair House for a ceremony marking the repatriation of over 200 artifacts to the Indian government. "There are a number of very important antiquities which would be coming back," said Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Modi was called upon by President Obama at the Oval Office for a meeting that focused on the growing economic ties between the two countries and their shared interest in curbing Chinese international ambitions. "A key prioruty for both of us is how to promote economic prosperity and opportunity, and poverty alleviation for our people," Obama said before the meeting commenced.
Modi will next meet with US business leaders and encourage them to invest in India. It is also said that between the two engagements, Modi will be called on by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. The PM will address a joint meeting of the US Congress, making him the fifth Indian Prime Minister in India to do so. And later, there will be a reception held by the Indian community.
After the completion of his scheduled events in the US, Narendra Modi will fly to neighbouring Mexico where he is slated to have dinner with president Enrique Peña Nieto.
