US President George W Bush said Friday that a strategic partnership launched with India could transform the world and urged New Delhi to take a lead in spreading freedom and democracy.
And following landmark talks between Bush and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, the two countries have finalised a landmark nuclear deal which will give New Delhi access to US civilian nuclear technology and open its nuclear facilities to international inspections.
The deal is a boost for India which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Critics say it will compromise nuclear non-proliferation efforts as India, which is a neighbour of two other nuclear nations, China and Pakistan, could use the information to develop more powerful atomic weapons. The deal still has to be ratified by the US Congress.
The two countries signed a 10-year agreement to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. The landmark agreement will help facilitate joint weapons production, co-operation on missile defence and the transfer of technology.
The US Defence Department hailed the new accord aimed at helping meet India’s defence needs. It also cited the US commitment to providing India with modern fighter aircraft.
And an India-US Framework for Maritime Security Cooperation released on March 2 commits the two nations to a “comprehensive cooperation in ensuring a secure maritime domain.”
“The United States and India have entered a new era,” a statement issued after the signing of the agreement in Washington said. “We are transforming our relationship to reflect our common principles and shared national interests.”
The world’s most powerful democracy and its most populous democracy would rally global efforts to push for democracy, fight terrorism and break down trade barriers, Bush said in a keynote address at the end of his three-day visit.
Speaking a day after clinching a landmark nuclear deal with India, Bush paid glowing tribute to India, saying he was “dazzled by this vibrant and exciting land.”
“India in the 21st century is a natural partner of the United States because we are the brothers in the cause of human liberty,” he said, speaking from a 16th century fort in the Indian capital.
“The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before and the partnership between our free nations has the power to transform the world.”
Referring to the Cold War, he said that for many years, the United States and India were kept apart by the rivalries that divided the world.
“That’s changed. Our two great democracies are now united by opportunities that can lift the people, and threats that can bring down all our progress,” he said. “America and India are allies in the war against terror … America and India are in this war together and we will win this war together.”
Calling India “a global power”, he said New Delhi had “a historic duty to support democracy around the world”. Bush went on to describe the role India has played in fostering democracy in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime.
He described India as the world’s largest democracy, “the birthplace of great religions”. “We are brothers in the cause of human liberty.”
“India and US have ambitious goals for our partnership. We can look to the future with confidence. Our relations ship has never been better. We will work together. There is no limit to what we can achieve.”
“India’s leadership is needed in a world that is hungry for freedom,” Bush said. “Men and women from North Korea to Burma, to Syria, to Zimbabwe, to Cuba, yearn for their liberty.”
“Our nations must not pretend that people of these countries prefer their own enslavement.”
Bush called on New Delhi to raise foreign direct investment limits (FDI) and open its market to US farm and industrial goods as well as services.
Bush drew the longest applause from a gathering that included the Who’s Who of Indian politics and business when he said that India and the US would never succumb to terrorism.
“(The terrorists) target democracies because they think we are weak... America and India love freedom and we will love to keep it.”
Bush concluded by saying: “We are optimistic about your future. May god bless India.”
Later, Bush also said he had no objections to an Iranian linked pipeline to supply natural gas to India and Pakistan, despite the growing crisis over Iran’s nuclear programs, saying “Our beef with Iran is not the pipeline, our beef with Iran is in fact they want to develop a nuclear weapon.”
And following landmark talks between Bush and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, the two countries have finalised a landmark nuclear deal which will give New Delhi access to US civilian nuclear technology and open its nuclear facilities to international inspections.
The deal is a boost for India which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Critics say it will compromise nuclear non-proliferation efforts as India, which is a neighbour of two other nuclear nations, China and Pakistan, could use the information to develop more powerful atomic weapons. The deal still has to be ratified by the US Congress.
The two countries signed a 10-year agreement to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. The landmark agreement will help facilitate joint weapons production, co-operation on missile defence and the transfer of technology.
The US Defence Department hailed the new accord aimed at helping meet India’s defence needs. It also cited the US commitment to providing India with modern fighter aircraft.
And an India-US Framework for Maritime Security Cooperation released on March 2 commits the two nations to a “comprehensive cooperation in ensuring a secure maritime domain.”
“The United States and India have entered a new era,” a statement issued after the signing of the agreement in Washington said. “We are transforming our relationship to reflect our common principles and shared national interests.”
The world’s most powerful democracy and its most populous democracy would rally global efforts to push for democracy, fight terrorism and break down trade barriers, Bush said in a keynote address at the end of his three-day visit.
Speaking a day after clinching a landmark nuclear deal with India, Bush paid glowing tribute to India, saying he was “dazzled by this vibrant and exciting land.”
“India in the 21st century is a natural partner of the United States because we are the brothers in the cause of human liberty,” he said, speaking from a 16th century fort in the Indian capital.
“The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before and the partnership between our free nations has the power to transform the world.”
Referring to the Cold War, he said that for many years, the United States and India were kept apart by the rivalries that divided the world.
“That’s changed. Our two great democracies are now united by opportunities that can lift the people, and threats that can bring down all our progress,” he said. “America and India are allies in the war against terror … America and India are in this war together and we will win this war together.”
Calling India “a global power”, he said New Delhi had “a historic duty to support democracy around the world”. Bush went on to describe the role India has played in fostering democracy in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime.
He described India as the world’s largest democracy, “the birthplace of great religions”. “We are brothers in the cause of human liberty.”
“India and US have ambitious goals for our partnership. We can look to the future with confidence. Our relations ship has never been better. We will work together. There is no limit to what we can achieve.”
“India’s leadership is needed in a world that is hungry for freedom,” Bush said. “Men and women from North Korea to Burma, to Syria, to Zimbabwe, to Cuba, yearn for their liberty.”
“Our nations must not pretend that people of these countries prefer their own enslavement.”
Bush called on New Delhi to raise foreign direct investment limits (FDI) and open its market to US farm and industrial goods as well as services.
Bush drew the longest applause from a gathering that included the Who’s Who of Indian politics and business when he said that India and the US would never succumb to terrorism.
“(The terrorists) target democracies because they think we are weak... America and India love freedom and we will love to keep it.”
Bush concluded by saying: “We are optimistic about your future. May god bless India.”
Later, Bush also said he had no objections to an Iranian linked pipeline to supply natural gas to India and Pakistan, despite the growing crisis over Iran’s nuclear programs, saying “Our beef with Iran is not the pipeline, our beef with Iran is in fact they want to develop a nuclear weapon.”
