Tripartite relationship - India-Israel-USA
A paradigm shift in Indian Foreign policy
hindustantimes.com
Ties with Tel Aviv
The statement made by the Deputy Secretary General of the Arab League about nuclear cooperation between India and Israel, though denied by the External Affairs Ministry, has underlined a shift in India?s foreign policy towards West Asia which has hardly been taken note of.
While New Delhi enjoys excellent ties with the Arab world, it is based today more on pragmatism than on sentiments. On the other hand, while India has moved closer to Israel perhaps faster than any other country which did not recognise the Jewish State till the early 1990s, New Delhi is still cagey about its relations with Tel Aviv. New Delhi is seemingly encumbered by its traditionally intimate ties with the Arab world, particularly its principled support to the Palestinian cause. That perhaps explains the unpublicised visit of the principal secretary to Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra to Israel. The two countries have a lot in common and it is only to be expected that they should find ways to further cement these ties. At a time when India is diversifying its defence purchases, it is only natural to turn to Israel for hi-tech military and surveillance equipment. Mr Mishra?s visit may be intended to
persuade Tel Aviv to speed up delivery of arms and military supplies to India.
India hopes to take advantage of Israel?s advanced technology in modern warfare. The compatibility between the two countries is quite apparent. What is, however, needed is to forge strategic partnership between them. Israeli equipment such as electronic counter measures command and control and communications system are highly sophisticated. Earlier this year an Indian delegation visited vital
installations of Israel?s aircraft industry. Reports of Israel selling an advanced electronic warfare system to India have appeared in the Israeli media. Israel is also
keen to transfer technology in other fields like agriculture, horticulture, telecom and the chemical industry. That Mr Mishra went to Tel Aviv when American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright happened to be in the Israeli capital may be a coincidence. But the recent improvement in Indo-US ties is bound to provide a new
impulse to India?s growing interactions with Israel. If Prime Minister Ehud Barak undertakes a visit to India next year and President Clinton goes ahead with his planned trip, it will mark a paradigm shift in Indian foreign policy. |
