Taming Of The US: How White House Changed Its Stance On Narendra Modi

The United States is perhaps trying to make up for its mistake. The US Secretary of State John Kerry is in some kind of desperation congratulating the new Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi again and again while reiterating that the US “stands ready to work closely with Prime Minister Modi and the new government to promote shared prosperity and strengthen our security.”

On Saturday, US President Barack Obama congratulated Modi on Bhartiya Janata Party’s “success in India’s historic election”. Obama also extended invitation towards Modi to visit Washington ”to further strengthen bilateral relationship”.

It was miles away from the decade-long attitude of the US towards Modi.

The White House has also come up with a presser, though a little later just like its changed stance, on Obama’s Saturday statement saying thus: “The president called prime ministerial candidate and Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi today to congratulate him on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s success in India’s historic election. The president noted he looks forward to working closely with Mr. Modi to fulfil the extraordinary promise of the US-India strategic partnership, and they agreed to continue expanding and deepening the wide-ranging cooperation between our two democracies. The president invited Narendra Modi to visit Washington at a mutually agreeable time to further strengthen our bilateral relationship.”

Not many have forgotten about the partisan behavior of US when it came to giving visa to Modi. The US State Department of America’s foreign ministry is now singing a different tune altogether. State Department spokesman Jen Psaki now says that American visa won’t be a problem for Modi. Psaki was quoted as saying thus: “The prime minister of India will be welcomed to the United States. As head of government, Mr. Modi would be eligible for an A-1 visa.”

But, as BJP manifesto had pointed out, it is less likely that Modi will jump at the idea of visiting US and strengthening ties with the White House.

The UPA government did not give in to the US bluff when it came to the Devyani Khobragade case last year. Modi has been on the same page as the UPA government on the issue. When US Ambassador Nancy Powell visited him at his Gandhinagar office earlier this year, he had told her that the Americans had ruffled the Indian feathers in this context and that this irritant had to be removed at the earliest. The Americans have done nothing in this regard. They also ignored the rise of the leader and it is no secret that it Powell her job.

The US happens to be India’s largest trade partner with annual bilateral trade over $ 100 billion. Indian companies have also invested $ 33 billion in the US and helped the American economy and job market in a big way. The India is on equal footing with America not only in economy but on many fronts.

Like the US had to give in now, it may have to change its position on many other things. Modi is not in a hurry to accept Obama’s invitation. Maybe a meeting on the sidelines of some world forum is what Obama will get for now.