IASbhai Daily Editorial Hunt | 10th Nov 2020
“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.” – Beverly Sills
Dear AspirantsIASbhai Editorial Hunt is an initiative to dilute major Editorials of leading Newspapers in India which are most relevant to UPSC preparation –‘THE HINDU, LIVEMINT , INDIAN EXPRESS’ and help millions of readers who find difficulty in answer writing and making notes everyday. Here we choose two editorials on daily basis and analyse them with respect to UPSC MAINS 2020-21.
EDITORIAL HUNT #233 :“Biden – India’s Foreign Policy 2020 | UPSC”
Chinmaya R. Gharekhan
Biden – India’s Foreign Policy 2020 | UPSC
Chinmaya R. Gharekhan, a former Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, was Special Envoy for West Asia in the Manmohan Singh government
HEADLINES:
Under Biden, unfurling India’s foreign policy concerns
CENTRAL THEME:
After good ties with Trump, New Delhi must track how the new administration deals with China and Iran, respectively
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 2 : IR
MAINS QUESTION:
Has Joe Biden been a friend of India? Discuss the strategic alliance of U.S. administration and its impact on India. (GS 2)
LEARNING:
- West Asia and U.S.
- Biden’s Approach and India
- Biden’s Electoral commitments
- Quad Dynamics and China
- Handling Iran
INTRODUCTION:
- ABRAHAM ACCORDS : Mr. Trump’s only real achievements in foreign policy were the agreements on establishment of diplomatic relations that he negotiated between Israel and a couple of the Gulf States.
- WEST ASIA DILEMMA : The Saudis and Mr. Netanyahu cannot be sure what policy President-elect Joe Biden will adopt on the questions of West Asia peace plans and the nuclear deal with Iran.
- JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION : JCPOA — which President Barack Obama negotiated when Mr. Biden was the Vice-President.
- BIGGEST EQUATIONS : For the world, the equation between the United States and China may be the relationship of the greatest consequence.
- HUGE STAKES IN WEST ASIA : What happens in greater West Asia will always remain of concern to us since we have a huge stake in that region.
BODY:
BIDEN’S APPROACH AND INDIA
- CIVIL NUCLEAR DEAL 2008 : As the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden worked towards co-sponsored several legislations on countering terrorism.
- BIDEN’S MANIFESTO : My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States.
- DEEPENING STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS : The Obama-Biden Administration also named India a “Major Defense Partner” – a status approved by the US Congress.
- DEEPER MILITARY COOPERATION : At the end of the Obama administration, the two sides signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
- COUNTER TERRORISM MEASURES : “Biden believes there can be no tolerance for terrorism in South Asia – cross-border or otherwise”, –his campaign document .
- STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM : While there is not much he said during his time in the administration on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
- RULE BASED ORDER : “A Biden Administration will also work with India to support a rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific region in which no country threaten its neighbours with impunity.-Biden’s campaign document
- IMMIGRATION POLICY : Democrats are seen to be more liberal on immigration, Biden is expected to be softer towards Indians who go to the US to study, work and live there.
BIDEN’s ELECTORAL COMMITMENTS
- Biden promised to support family-based immigration
- Reform the temporary visa system for high-skill, specialty jobs
- Eliminate the limits on employment-based green cards.
- Restore the naturalisation process for green card holders.
QUAD DYNAMICS AND CHINA
- FOUNDATIONAL AGREEMENTS : Recently India signed all the ‘foundational’ agreements with America and bought billions of dollars worth of military hardware from them.
- QUAD DYNAMICS : We resisted converting the Quad into a primarily military or strategic grouping, (what China perceives it to be) and is in fact aimed solely at containing China.
- FORMALISATION IN FUTURE : Quad will have to be institutionalised and expanded by adding additional members such as Taiwan and South Korea.
IASbhai Windup:
HANDLING IRAN
- TURNING THE ADVENTURISM : As for Iran — Mr. Biden’s policy will be of great interest to us — it may be difficult for Mr. Biden to quickly reverse Mr. Trump’s adventurist policy towards Iran.
- ESTABLISHING PEACE : Biden will surely, if slowly, engage Tehran in talks and negotiations through Oman or some other intermediary, to reduce tensions in the region.
- ROAD TO WEST ASIA : India should hope that he will not maintain the harsh unilateral sanctions that Mr. Trump imposed on Iran.
- CHABAHAR PORT : New Delhi may also feel less constrained in investing openly in oil and other infra projects in Iran, including the rail project in which Indian Railways Construction Ltd has been interested.
Over the last 20 years, every US President had differences on many issues, but if there was one common theme on which all of them agreed was this: a stronger relationship with India.
SOURCES: THE HINDU EDITORIAL HUNT | Biden – India’s Foreign Policy 2020 | UPSC
Must Read Articles :
TRENDING NOW : Important The Hindu Editorials
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis & Answer writing video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
