President Obama's Asia trip sharpens security issues
Friday, 26 November 2010
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
THE recent visit of the United States president Barack Obama to Asia has not only sharpened the already existing overt and covert security-related rivalries in the region, but also brought into focus the necessity of the concerned countries to re-evaluate their strategies in many areas. The ten-day trip had taken the chief executive of world's most powerful nation to four important continental countries that have now become somewhat inextricably linked with the future American strategies in Asia even though some of them have long tradition of being the US allies. Asia is currently the eye of an emerging economic and political equation that would greatly influence global affairs in the coming days and hence Obama's trip to four countries and the outcome of the visit are being interpreted in varying degrees in different quarters with one element in common - this trip has a lot to do with the American policy and strategy in the largest continent.
President Obama had arrived in India on the first leg of his visit -- and that too in the county's commercial hub Mumbai -- and concluded a number of accords mainly in economic and commercial fields. He then flew to New Delhi where he discussed important political and other matters pertaining to bilateral, regional and international significance. Needless to say, the India visit was closely watched by many quarters because of a variety of reasons compared to his subsequent trips to Indonesia, South Korea and capped by that to Japan.
Evidently, two neighbours of India - Pakistan and China - whose ties with New Delhi have been fraught in many ways owing to geographical and other forms of disputes for a long time - looked askance at the visit of the US president to India. China and India are two giant nighbours, who have fared remarkably well even during the world economic recession and hold the future of the global economic prowess. Many say that together with Japan, these two nations would lead Asia in the world economy and signs are already discernible in that direction. However, this does not obscure the fact that New Delhi and Beijing are at loggerheads over disputes along their borders and both are also engaged in a kind of rivalries which none would officially acknowledge. Democratic India and Communist China are both important in the coming days in the global affairs and it is only logical to assume that Washington would back New Delhi for obvious reasons. The US is visibly concerned over China's growing military and other influence in the region affecting the interest of its allies.
Against this background, New Delhi-Washington relations have been strengthened in recent years even though India has not been an ally of the US as such. The Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation signed during former Republican president George Bush's time and endorsed by the present Democrat administration of Barack Obama is a pointer that the ties are moving from strength to strength, regardless of the administration in the White house. The economy of India is also a factor here since this growing trade and commerce would help the US as well, because of the vast market. During the visit, this has happened as reflected by signing of different agreements. However, the political ramifications of the India visit by the US president were too obvious when viewed from American interest.
Pakistan, a long time close of the US - particularly in its "war against terror" -- was clearly upset by Obama visit India as he had not included this country in his itinerary. Because of the Afghan war and a myriad of other reasons, Islamabad's support to the US is crucial. Nevertheless, the US president chose to visit only India because economic and other factors weighed, rather, too heavily for such a decision. The administration wanted to attach singular importance to New Delhi by not outing Pakistan at par, by visiting both the rival nations. However, the US sought to strike a balance by announcing massive military and other assistances to Pakistan just before the visit as it can not afford to annoy that country. Still, Islamabad is disappointed and more so when Obama supports the Indian bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations security council. Although this support does not really mean anything much of substance since the issue is mired by various complications, this has, however, been an achievement for New Delhi. Now, it remains to be seen how Washington pacifies its ally Pakistan and the India visit of Obama is also potentially dangerous for even closer relations between Islamabad and China - both are wary about India in varying ways.
The US president's Indonesia trip was largely sentimental as he spent several years in Jakarta in his childhood, but the county is the largest Muslim nation in terms of population and also in the south east Asia. Obama spoke in Indonesia about Islamic values and with great admiration while castigating the militancy. This is also meant to silence the critics that he visited India and not Islamic Pakistan.
Barack Obama visited South Korea and Japan for both bilateral and international gatherings. Both the countries are close allies of the US and American troops are stationed there for many years. Because of the tension with communist hard-line north Korea and other developments, his visits to two countries are not only a part of normal US exercise, but also a sort of emboldening Washington's strategies to protect the allies.
The four-nation Asia trip by the US President Barack Obama, has brought to the fore the growing importance of Asia in both political and economic areas - military not excluded - and this would in phases certainly sharpen the matters related to security for the countries who have great stakes.
(zaglulbss@yahoo.com)
THE recent visit of the United States president Barack Obama to Asia has not only sharpened the already existing overt and covert security-related rivalries in the region, but also brought into focus the necessity of the concerned countries to re-evaluate their strategies in many areas. The ten-day trip had taken the chief executive of world's most powerful nation to four important continental countries that have now become somewhat inextricably linked with the future American strategies in Asia even though some of them have long tradition of being the US allies. Asia is currently the eye of an emerging economic and political equation that would greatly influence global affairs in the coming days and hence Obama's trip to four countries and the outcome of the visit are being interpreted in varying degrees in different quarters with one element in common - this trip has a lot to do with the American policy and strategy in the largest continent.
President Obama had arrived in India on the first leg of his visit -- and that too in the county's commercial hub Mumbai -- and concluded a number of accords mainly in economic and commercial fields. He then flew to New Delhi where he discussed important political and other matters pertaining to bilateral, regional and international significance. Needless to say, the India visit was closely watched by many quarters because of a variety of reasons compared to his subsequent trips to Indonesia, South Korea and capped by that to Japan.
Evidently, two neighbours of India - Pakistan and China - whose ties with New Delhi have been fraught in many ways owing to geographical and other forms of disputes for a long time - looked askance at the visit of the US president to India. China and India are two giant nighbours, who have fared remarkably well even during the world economic recession and hold the future of the global economic prowess. Many say that together with Japan, these two nations would lead Asia in the world economy and signs are already discernible in that direction. However, this does not obscure the fact that New Delhi and Beijing are at loggerheads over disputes along their borders and both are also engaged in a kind of rivalries which none would officially acknowledge. Democratic India and Communist China are both important in the coming days in the global affairs and it is only logical to assume that Washington would back New Delhi for obvious reasons. The US is visibly concerned over China's growing military and other influence in the region affecting the interest of its allies.
Against this background, New Delhi-Washington relations have been strengthened in recent years even though India has not been an ally of the US as such. The Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation signed during former Republican president George Bush's time and endorsed by the present Democrat administration of Barack Obama is a pointer that the ties are moving from strength to strength, regardless of the administration in the White house. The economy of India is also a factor here since this growing trade and commerce would help the US as well, because of the vast market. During the visit, this has happened as reflected by signing of different agreements. However, the political ramifications of the India visit by the US president were too obvious when viewed from American interest.
Pakistan, a long time close of the US - particularly in its "war against terror" -- was clearly upset by Obama visit India as he had not included this country in his itinerary. Because of the Afghan war and a myriad of other reasons, Islamabad's support to the US is crucial. Nevertheless, the US president chose to visit only India because economic and other factors weighed, rather, too heavily for such a decision. The administration wanted to attach singular importance to New Delhi by not outing Pakistan at par, by visiting both the rival nations. However, the US sought to strike a balance by announcing massive military and other assistances to Pakistan just before the visit as it can not afford to annoy that country. Still, Islamabad is disappointed and more so when Obama supports the Indian bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations security council. Although this support does not really mean anything much of substance since the issue is mired by various complications, this has, however, been an achievement for New Delhi. Now, it remains to be seen how Washington pacifies its ally Pakistan and the India visit of Obama is also potentially dangerous for even closer relations between Islamabad and China - both are wary about India in varying ways.
The US president's Indonesia trip was largely sentimental as he spent several years in Jakarta in his childhood, but the county is the largest Muslim nation in terms of population and also in the south east Asia. Obama spoke in Indonesia about Islamic values and with great admiration while castigating the militancy. This is also meant to silence the critics that he visited India and not Islamic Pakistan.
Barack Obama visited South Korea and Japan for both bilateral and international gatherings. Both the countries are close allies of the US and American troops are stationed there for many years. Because of the tension with communist hard-line north Korea and other developments, his visits to two countries are not only a part of normal US exercise, but also a sort of emboldening Washington's strategies to protect the allies.
The four-nation Asia trip by the US President Barack Obama, has brought to the fore the growing importance of Asia in both political and economic areas - military not excluded - and this would in phases certainly sharpen the matters related to security for the countries who have great stakes.
(zaglulbss@yahoo.com)