US unleashes the Indian poodle
There was never an iota of doubt in anyones rational mind that the United States would have any option other than to grant India a waiver on its oil sanctions against Iran. Any other course would have meant an untimely setback to the relationship when the US core interests are involved at a time when the Indian market for US civilian and military exports looks promising and Indian investments in the US economy are on the rise.
The only real issue is the timing of the announcement made in Washington on Monday. Clearly, the announcement is intended to create a feel-good ambience for the US-India Strategic Dialogue which is due on Wednesday in Washington. The USs public diplomacy is spot on. The US has made a virtue out of necessity and would now hope that the Indians feel elated over the concession shown to them.
Does the US expect a quid pro quo from India? Thats the big question as the Strategic Dialogue convenes. The US diplomacy is famous for making linkages.
Look at the funny side, though: US imposes sanctions against a sovereign country and then proceeds to threaten other sovereign countries with downstream sanctions unless they fell in line and heeded the spirit of the original sanctions regime and then lo and behold it unilaterally decides to issue waivers in instalments.
Is this foreign policy befitting a superpower even in a multipolar world? To my mind, it is belittling that the US resorts to anti-Iranian rhetoric by using India. Why not show the courage to stand up, look Iran straight in the eye and say a few unpleasant things instead of taking potshots?
Again, assuming that India cowered under US pressure (which might well be the case) and significantly reduced its oil imports from Iran (which is highly probable), why make all 1300 million of us look like docile poodles? Madam Secretary of State could have singled out the Indian leadership for praise.
This isnt what a defining partnership of the 21st century should look like. Nor does it look like the equal partnership that it is supposed to be. The only consolation is that the Indian delegation will now be spared of further harangue when they sit across the table at Wednesdays talks Iran has been delisted from the talking points. The US state department statement is here.
Indian Punchline
There was never an iota of doubt in anyones rational mind that the United States would have any option other than to grant India a waiver on its oil sanctions against Iran. Any other course would have meant an untimely setback to the relationship when the US core interests are involved at a time when the Indian market for US civilian and military exports looks promising and Indian investments in the US economy are on the rise.
The only real issue is the timing of the announcement made in Washington on Monday. Clearly, the announcement is intended to create a feel-good ambience for the US-India Strategic Dialogue which is due on Wednesday in Washington. The USs public diplomacy is spot on. The US has made a virtue out of necessity and would now hope that the Indians feel elated over the concession shown to them.
Does the US expect a quid pro quo from India? Thats the big question as the Strategic Dialogue convenes. The US diplomacy is famous for making linkages.
Look at the funny side, though: US imposes sanctions against a sovereign country and then proceeds to threaten other sovereign countries with downstream sanctions unless they fell in line and heeded the spirit of the original sanctions regime and then lo and behold it unilaterally decides to issue waivers in instalments.
Is this foreign policy befitting a superpower even in a multipolar world? To my mind, it is belittling that the US resorts to anti-Iranian rhetoric by using India. Why not show the courage to stand up, look Iran straight in the eye and say a few unpleasant things instead of taking potshots?
Again, assuming that India cowered under US pressure (which might well be the case) and significantly reduced its oil imports from Iran (which is highly probable), why make all 1300 million of us look like docile poodles? Madam Secretary of State could have singled out the Indian leadership for praise.
This isnt what a defining partnership of the 21st century should look like. Nor does it look like the equal partnership that it is supposed to be. The only consolation is that the Indian delegation will now be spared of further harangue when they sit across the table at Wednesdays talks Iran has been delisted from the talking points. The US state department statement is here.
Indian Punchline