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The reelection of George W. Bush as US president is a noteworthy development for India that has built a strong link with US in recent years.
During the four years of Bush's first term, unquestionably, the two nations came closer with Bush warming up to India as a strategic partner and global player. He was the first US president to treat India as a "strategic partner."
In fact, bilateral interaction was at a level never seen before. In recent years, a string of high profile senior US officials visited India. The two countries are currently engaged in negotiations on the second phase of the "Next Steps in Strategic Partnership" envisaging cooperation in areas of vital interest to India, such as cooperation in civilian space and nuclear issues and high technology trade.
Bush in office is good indication for India, as the bilateral trade is certain to expand fast and the US remains India's leading purchaser for software and the largest trade partner. Notably, of the total Indian software exports, the outflow to US accounts for around 68 percent and has been growing at around 30 percent a year.
Also, India needs no more fear of any clampdown, particularly on the outsourcing issue. US companies have outsourced a number of high tech jobs to India, a development criticized by Bush's Democratic rival John Kerry. But the victory has come as a big relief to the Indian software industry and other Indian companies who do sub-contracting work or run call-centers for US companies.
The triumph of Kerry would have caused worry because of the important issue of non-proliferation that is of vital concern to India. Notably, Kerry's reply to a query about India's eligibility for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council was that India would have to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) first.
Experts say that a Kerry government would have put stress on India to sign the NPT, something that no Indian government has been prepared to accomplish.
India also expects to get bigger support from Bush in its continuing combat against cross-border terrorism. India believes that Bush's anti-terror war worldwide is in line with India's efforts in fighting against the militant separatist groups in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Investors also observe Bush's victory as an encouraging sign for the Indian stock market and particularly for scores of technology firms who manage the back office operations for big US firms.
For New Delhi, the encouraging side of Bush's reelection is obvious. But, there are other issues that might frequently block India-US relations and need to be sort out in Bush's second term.
An encouraged Bush may now look for more tangible milestones from Pakistan, including nabbing Osama Bin Laden as early as possible. Experts say any sale of arms to Pakistan by US will cause enormous indigestion for India and may show the way to a session of negativism between the two nations.
Experts say that further expansion of defense relations between the two nations would depend on India's position on the US missile defense plan. The left parties in India are bound to disagree with the US proposal.
In fact, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist Party of India, who give crucial parliamentary support to the United Progressive Alliance Government, advised the government Saturday to distance itself from the Bush administration and safeguard India's sovereignty.
"The reelection of George Bush as president of US portends a continuation of the aggressive and unilateral approach to international relations," a CPI-M official said.
Moreover, the characteristic of the India-US rapport will be likely to depend a lot on the personal traits of a likely new Bush administration.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2004)
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