The President of the United States lands tomorrow in New Delhi, on his first official visit since the installation of Prime Minister Modi. The tenant of the White House will participate in the parade for India’s Republic Day, but the main issue is the possibility of new investments. An Indian law is likely to curb the "atomic aspirations" of Narendra Modi.

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.

 

• INDIA - USA Obama nuclear energy
• terrorism climate change China Pakistan