Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

PM Narendra Modi meeting Business Leaders ( Image credits- Flickr/ Narendra Modi Official ) Source- The Diplomat Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi just completed his much anticipated trip to the United States, returning  to Delhi after a five day visit to New York and Washington, D.C. The enthusiasm, coverage, and according to some, hype, that Modi’s trip to the U.S. generated was enormous. Regardless of the actual policy accomplishments of Modi’s trip, many will regard it as a success. As many recent incidents and events have shown, Indians, especially the middle-class Indians who are most likely to influence public opinion, are prickly about India’s honor and pride. They want a leader who is seen as being a proactive advocate of India and is heard and respected by the international community and world powers. In other words, they want a leader who can generate buzz, and Modi accomplishes this. Marketing Of course, it would be problematic if Modi’s government only aimed

Image credits- Narendra Modi via flickr.com Indian Prime Minister Modi arrives in the United States this weekend, for a five-day visit split between New York and Washington, DC. He’ll have a  full program  in New York to start, with a speech at the UN General Assembly, numerous meetings with CEOs, speeches here at  CFR  and at the  Global Citizen Festival  in Central Park, and the headline-topping gathering of his closest 18,000 friends in the Indian American community at  Madison Square Garden  (to be simulcast in Times Square as well). That would be a heady program on its own. But he’ll have an equally full program in Washington, which he will reach late Monday afternoon. President Obama will host him for a small, exclusive working dinner (over which the Indian press has begun to perseverate, since Mr. Modi will be on a lemon water and honey  fast  for Navratri). He will have discussions with the president, and other senior members of the administration will call on him. Vice

Image credits- Narendra Modi With the United States consumed by foreign-policy crises around the globe, many Americans are not according much importance to the  upcoming summit  between President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, many Americans likely have no idea it is even happening. Americans should care about Modi’s visit because of the tremendous strategic significance of the country he leads. With over 1.2 billion people (a sixth of all humanity), the world’s third largest economy (on a purchasing power basis), the third largest army, nuclear-weapons capability, rocket technology to put a satellite around Mars at one ninth the NASA cost (and on the first try) and a deep reservoir of young, talented workers, India has the ability to help the United States tackle an array of major international challenges. High on this list is Islamist terrorism. On December 13, 2001, just three months after the United States experienced the 9/11 attacks,

P-8i Poseidon ( Image courtesy-Wikimedia commons/ Indian Navy) The United States is ready to give a special role to India in its "Asia-Pacific rebalance" strategy and is "flexible" to adapt itself to meet the Indian defence needs, a former US government official has said.  The official, who played a key role in India-US defence ties in past few years, hoped the Narendra Modi-led Indian Government with a decisive mandate would clear the high-tech projects that the two countries can co-produce for their respective armed forces.  He said the Obama Administration is ready to go that extra mile to help India realise its ambition of being self-reliant in defence research, development and production.  About 10 months ago, the then Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter had submitted to the then UPA government a comprehensive list of defence systems, which the US was ready to co-develop and co-produce with India.  "Those were projects that our industry would li

Pic courtesy-Wikimedia and United States Navy Injecting some much-needed thrust to its rapidly expanding strategic partnership with Japan, India has invited the Japanese forces to take part in this year's edition of the Indo-US Malabar naval war games that have riled China in the past. India and Japan on Saturday also decided to hold another joint working group meeting in March to discuss the sale of Japanese US-2i ShinMayva amphibious aircraft to Indian Navy, apart from ramping up defence ties through regular joint combat exercises and military exchanges as well as cooperation in anti-piracy, maritime security and counter-terrorism.................  http://defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=U0nBViR/qkc=

Pic courtesy-Wikipedia and the author WASHINGTON: The United States is moving forward to develop a long-term strategic military partnership with India, a top American military commander said, noting that in the long run, India's role in security in a peaceful Indian Ocean is critical. ............... Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/29277379.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/moving-towards-long-term-military-relationship-with-india-us/articleshow/29277379.cms

Pic courtesy- The Financial Express The actions of the United States government in the arrest of Devyani Khobragade is nothing but  a national humiliation for India. The American government not only ignored the established international laws and norms of treatment of diplomats who enjoy immunity but out raging the modesty of a women who does not have previous criminal antecedents and treating her like a hardened criminal. This actions for any self respecting nation is unacceptable. The Govt of India took the right step in taking a tough line and making the American govt understand their wrong doings. Nothing but an unconditional apology from the American govt will be acceptable for us Indians. better America take corrective steps before the relations with India gets strained for ever. Let it be the last time that such a thing happens anywhere and act as a reminder to the erring officers that their will be consequences for their reckless actions Vante Mathram

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-will-have-to-apologize-Kamal-Nath-says/articleshow/27641814.cms?intenttarget=no