Considerable importance attaches to US Defence Secretary Leon Panetti’s statement that defence co-operation with India will play a key role in promoting relations between the two countries. There have been two developments. The US pull-out from Afghanistan is drawing near but the Obama administration has made it clear that it will not leave the area out in the cold. Besides, it is deploying 60% of its naval fleet in the waters from the western Pacific to the Indian Ocean . The US is also anxious to stand up to Chinese influence in the region. Many East Asian countries are having disputes with China over territory in the South China Sea . India itself is a victim of Chinese military arrogance. Beijing is putting up hurdles in the implementation of Indo-Vietnamese oil exploration projects. However, both India and the US have asserted freedom of navigation and economic activity in the South China Sea and would not budge from their stand.
India has to carefully walk the tight rope. The Indo-US bilateral relationship is very valuable to India . It is all the more so in the light of global terrorism and the Afghan conflict. At the same time, Delhi should ensure that relations with Beijing remain unimpaired. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit was held only a few days ago. There the Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang said that Sino-Indian relations were of the greatest importance in this century. A change in Chinese leadership is in sight and that should enable India to further strengthen ties with its giant neighbour. Words raise hope but frequent stand-offs cloud Sino-Indian friendship. The US is also volatile. It is necessary to remove the element of uncertainty.
