Obama’s Visit To India Marks the Rise of a New Global Power

The visit of Barack Obama to India ended on Tuesday as the President headed for Indonesia, the second country he is visiting in his Asian tour during which he will visit four countries (after Indonesia he will attend the G-20 in Seoul and then Japan).

The visit was seen by many analysts as one without any great significance especially since it was in consecution of the mid-term elections in the U.S.A., where Obama was showed that his support rate in the American society is dropping rapidly and dramatically.

So, while most American experts in foreign policies were not expecting more than a reassurance that India is a strategic partner of America, and probably a solution in the sensible issue of outsourcing in the IP field of expertise, the Indian experts were expecting to see their country welcomed into the club of global powers.

Which is exactly what they obtained. American President promised to support the Indian claim for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council; he also said that India is a rising, emerging global power and that it shall not be considered any less important than the other emerging powers in the region.

Indian experts said that the main concern of the country was that of keeping the “strategic partnership” that had been sealed during the Bush Administration.

Indians were concerned that Obama would not be committed to the civil nuclear program Bush had agreed upon.

Other questions the Indians were concerned about were referring to the possible solutions for the conflict in Kashmir, and the relation of the U.S. to China, a major competitor in the zone.

On the nuclear pact Obama promised lifting export control on sensitive technologies, and to support India’s admission into four international export-control regimes that deal with nuclear and missile technologies.

On Kashmir, Obama promised the U.S. will stay out of the problem in spite of the fact that the Indian troops killed more than 100 people in this province over the summer.

As for China, he promised that both countries will be included in the political and economic architecture of the zone, thus preventing Beijing from claiming hegemony in the region.

Obama impressed the Indians with his excellent stage management, and with his attitude towards the Pakistani regime.