India needs good relations with US: American Intel chief

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Feb 13 (PTI) India needs to maintain "good
relations" with the US to realise its ambitions of becoming a
major world power, a top Obama Administration intelligence
official has said, while acknowledging that New Delhi is
likely to continue to chart an independent course.

Putting India on par with China and ranking the two as
the emerging powers of the world, Dennis C Blair, Director of
National Intelligence in his annual threat assessment report
said India's expanding economy like that of China, will lead
New Delhi to pursue new trade partners, gain access to vital
energy markets and generate other resources required to
sustain rapid economic growth.

To sustain rapid growth, Indian governments also must
maintain the political support for economic reforms needed to
drive the expanding economy, Blair said in his prepared
statement before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

On the global stage, Blair said, the Indian leaders will
continue to follow an independent course characterised by
economic and political pragmatism.

New Delhi, he said, will not automatically support or
oppose positions favoured by the US or any other major power.

"Nonetheless, good relations with the United States will
be essential for India to realise its global ambitions," Blair
said.

He said Indian leaders will seek benefits from American
influence, trade, and technology and strong ties to Washington
will also give India more confidence in dealing with China and
in mitigating the dangers posed by its long-time adversary
Pakistan.

Even with an emerging stronger ties with the US, Blair
felt Indian leaders would often adopt positions contrary to
those favoured by Washington. "India will be concerned about
China during the coming decade because of Beijing's political
and economic power and its ability to project military force
regionally, but Indian leaders will strive to avoid
confrontation with China," he said.

Blair said as terrorism and proliferation threats persist
across the "arc of instability," East and South Asia are
poised to become the long-term power center of the world.

China and India are restoring the positions they held in
the 18 century when China produced approximately 30 per cent
and India 15 per cent of the world's wealth. These two
countries are likely to surpass the GDP of all other economies
except the US and Japan by 2025, although the current
financial crisis may somewhat slow the momentum, Blair said.

"All together — Japan, the "tiger" economies like South
Korea and Taiwan as well as rising giants of China and India
point to the "rise of Asia" as a defining characteristic of
the 21st century. China's re-emergence as a major power with
global impact is especially affecting the regional balance of
power," he said. PTI LKJ
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