Narendra Modi, who had forged very strong relations with Donald Trump – the two leaders had performed two great shows together in Texas and Gujarat -, feared the arrival of Joe Biden, more attentive on the question of the rights of the man, manhandled in the Indian subcontinent since the Hindu nationalist came to power in 2014. Antony Blinken’s visit to New Delhi on July 28 gave a first indication: the American Secretary of State had, by receiving representatives of several religious communities, stressed the importance for the United States of “Human dignity, equal opportunities, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion”.
This visit by the US Secretary of State came before the fall of the Afghan government and the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul, and before the shattering announcement of the Aukus military alliance. In a few weeks, geopolitical upheavals in Asia have placed India back at the heart of the challenges of stabilization and rebalancing of forces in the Indo-Pacific region. The second most populous country on the planet is an essential ally of the West, for the United States as for France and Europe, in particular to counter the rise in military, economic and technological power of China.
“New chapter”
Narendra Modi, traveling for three days in the United States, on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly and who met Kamala Harris, Thursday September 23 and Joe Biden Friday September 24, now knows which foot to dance on: the President and Democratic Vice-President reaffirmed very strongly their desire to strengthen ties with the Asian giant, at the same time as their demand for democracy. “I have long believed that the relationship between the United States and India can help us solve a very large number of global problems”, declared the American Democratic President, assuring that a “New chapter” opened up in their bilateral relations. But he immediately stressed that the partnership between India and the United States was rooted in democratic values. “It is rooted in our shared responsibility to defend democratic values, our common commitment to diversity, non-violence, tolerance”, he asserted.
The Democratic president needs India to complete the construction of a solid strategic alliance in the Indo-Pacific, his priority to contain Chinese expansionism. This interest is shared by New Delhi, which fears the assaults of its Chinese neighbor, ally of Pakistan, its historical enemy.
You have 43.28% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
www.lemonde.fr