Obama in India: nuclear energy, terrorism and climate change (in the shadow of China and Pakistan)
New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Barack Obama's arrival in India opens a question of 182 billion dollars that is attracting the attention of almost all the great Asian states. According to Bloomberg analysts' estimates this is the amount the US could invest in building new nuclear power plants and - as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi - provide electricity to 1.2 billion people, 24 hours a day, seven days a week . Tomorrow Barack Obama, US president, will land in India for a three-day state visit, and nuclear power will be one of the hottest topics at the center of talks between the two leaders.
Obama is
arriving in India just four months after Modi's visit
to Washington. The Indian Prime Minister surprised everyone when, he
invited the US president to preside as a "special guest" at the
parade for India's Republic Day, January 26.
But the ceremony to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, for
many commentators, is only an official "excuse" used by Modi to meet
again with Obama. The fight against terrorism, defense, climate change,
investment and nuclear energy are, in fact, the main issues on the agenda.
On the latter issue, however, there is a legal obstacle that is likely to act as a deterrent for new projects (and investments), the so-called "Accident liability". Unlike all the other countries of the world, India has a law on nuclear liability (Nuclear Liability Act, 2010), which also requires the supplier of the materials used for the construction and maintenance of power plants to compensate victims in the case of an accident. A clause strongly desired by Delhi after the Bhopal disaster, which claimed the lives of more than 15 thousand people, but that is considered controversial by many international States.
Among these was
the United States, one of India's first suppliers in atomic energy together
with Russia. Analysts point out the difficulties that Modi will have in finding
a compromise. In fact his party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - now in
government, but the opposition in 2010 - had been among the strongest
supporters of this clause. But today maintaining this position is likely to
haunt the Indian prime minister, who had promised to bring electricity to the
homes of all the people through nuclear power. Moreover, going against the
United States could alienate valuable investments.
In 2008, Washington helped Delhi to obtain an exemption from the Nuclear
Suppliers Group, the group of nations that export nuclear reactors and fuel,
which had blocked trade with any country not party to the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons Treaty. India has never signed the convention and conducted its
first test in 1974, the year of formation of the group.
However, Modi has already proven his dexterity in dealing with the diverse balances
governing international geopolitics, meeting one after the other (a few months
after taking office) the leaders of
Japan, China
and the United States. All States with issues between them for various
reasons.
In fact Beijing is another "hot" issue for the United States and
India. Washington is interested in having good relations with a rapidly
developing democracy like Delhi. It can become a powerhouse in Asia and a
counterpoint to the Chinese model of development, in a region where the United
States and China are competing for greater influence.
However, beyond the great "growth potential", the economic
relationship between the US and India are still limping. The total trade
between Washington and Beijing (which in terms of numbers has a population
similar to that of India) is about 560 billion US dollars, nine times higher
than the Indo-American trade.
Not to mention the other great "third wheel": Pakistan, US ally, but
eternal enemy of India. So far, except for sporadic
episodes, not even "Modi" diplomacy has been able to resolve that
question.
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26/08/2021 11:58
08/06/2016 13:31
25/09/2019 14:11
