Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
historic speech at the National Defence University in May 2001, surprised many
in India and abroad. It was seen by most observers as a complete shift from the
established Indian position on the matter, which supported the Anti-Ballistic
Missile (ABM) treaty and opposed the BMD project, which was seen as
conducive to a new arms race and the militarization of outer space.
While most European countries, including France, have voiced strong
reservations about BMD, India endorsed a 'highly significant statement by the
Bush administration (…) transforming the strategic parameters on which the
Cold War security architecture was built', for 'there is a strategic and
technological inevitability in stepping away from a world that is held hostage by
the doctrine of mutual assured destruction'.
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But two days later, when Russian
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov was in Delhi, his Indian counterpart made clear
that the 'ABM treaty of 1972 cannot and should not be abrogated unilaterally'.
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Fortunately for New Delhi, the opening of bilateral discussions between Moscow
and Washington on this point eased India's position, often described in the
country as a shaky equilibrium between Russia, her old friend, and America, her
new one.
The rationale behind India's reaction is easy to explain. As a fine observer
noted, Bush's proposal is akin to 'a tectonic movement in geopolitics'. 'As an
'outcast' in the old nuclear order, India has every reason to herald its demise and
welcome the construction of a more credible global nuclear arrangement'. It
remains to be seen, however, if the 'rewriting the rules of the nuclear game' will
effectively offers India 'a chance to be a part of the nuclear solution and not (of)
the proliferation problem'.
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This is not the place to debate upon the US missile defence policy implications
per se,
nor to evaluate its impact on South Asia. However, the episode and its
follow-up help to locate the Indo-French new dialogue in its overarching
context, defined not only by the global parameters, but also by the new
relationship New Delhi is establishing with key powers, particularly the US.
France and the India-US Rapprochement
The successful visit of President Clinton in India, in March 2000, heralded a new
chapter in the bilateral relations between the US and India. Both countries
pleaded, in a joint statement expounding a common 'Vision for the 21st
Century', for 'working together for strategic stability in Asia and beyond', as
'partners in peace'.
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The new relationship was expanded by the Bush
administration, particularly at the strategic level.
In May 2001, the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage came to
Delhi, after Tokyo and Seoul, for briefing the Indian Government on US's BMD
policy. In July, the first visit ever of a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
General Henry H.Shelton, ended with the decision to restart military cooperation
