Any India-US Alliance Against China Will Be A Disaster, Says Natwar Singh

Any India-US alliance against China will be a disaster, says Natwar Singh
Saturday, September 27, 2014

By : TNN
JAIPUR: Former external affairs minister Kunwar Natwar Singh on Wednesday advised US-bound Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from forging an alliance with the US against China.

JAIPUR: Former external affairs minister Kunwar Natwar Singh on Wednesday advised US-
bound Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from forging an alliance with the US against China.

"Modi should be careful. America will try to forge an alliance with India against China. But it will be a
disaster," said Singh, while delivering the Prabha Khaitan Memorial lecture on the current Indian foreign
policy here on Wednesday. He, however, expressed optimism that Modi will pay no heed to any such US
overture during his visit, and stressed, "India's alliance with Japan against China will also not work."

Singh said the economy is taking precedence over foreign policy nowadays and corporate organizations
are integral part of the delegations accompanying country heads. "Foreign policy is bound to be in shape,
if your economy is well," he said, highlighting that there is no possibility of another world war, thanks to
existence of several nuclear powers in the world. Therefore, economy has superseded the foreign policy of
most of the countries, Natwar stressed.

The former external affairs minister said Modi has become the centre of attraction for the world leaders
and all are eager to meet him during the forthcoming UN conference. "Modi is lucky that soon after
assuming the PM's office, he has opportunity to meet with leaders from all UN countries. He should
capitalize on the occasion to the hilt," he said. Singh further said Modi will not disappoint India, although
it is not easy to run a country having so much diversity.

Singh was of the view that it was a personal feat for Modi that a country, which had refused visa to him
for 10 long years, is now ready to offer him a red-carpet welcome.

"America knows that Modi will be there for a minimum of five years as he heads a majority government. It
is a great opportunity for Modi. Moreover, America is no more a superpower and India is now rated
among the top four countries other than the USA, Russia and China. Therefore, talks should be evenly
poised," he suggested.

The diplomat-turned politician, who served two prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh as
their trusted team member, advised the current prime minister to visit Russia as soon as possible. Russia is
the true ally of India and it has used its veto power in favour of India in the United Nation's Security
Council on several occasions, he said. Singh said Barack Obama, during his visit to India, supported India's
claim to be a permanent member in the United Nations but he did nothing afterward. "Russia is the only
country which has supported India's claim to the Security Council," he said.

Singh lauded Modi for his recent visits to neighbouring countries and meetings with heads of Japan and
China. "Modi has been flawless so far. We need to have healthy ties with neighbors and Modi is moving in
the right earnest," Singh said. He pointed that invitation to SAARC countries during the swearing in
ceremony was a great gesture and Modi should retain the same spirit towards other neighbouring
countries. "Previous governments neglected our neighbors. Manmohan Singh went only to Maldives and
no other Saarc nation in his 10 years' tenure as prime minister," Singh said, adding, "Manmohan Singh is a
good human being but not a leader and the nation requires an upright leader at this stage."

Singh went on to say, "Modi ek pukhta leader hain." He, however, said Modi has several challenges ahead.
"Modi is the best person to understand about challenges that he will have to face as prime minister.
Relations with Pakistan will be one major issue that he will have to handle carefully," he said, stressing that
past India-Pakistan relations were accident-prone and India will remain at the receiving end due to the
political uncertainty in Pakistan.

The former external affairs minister recalled his meeting with Modi in February this year before the Lok
Sabha polls. "I gave several tips to Modi about foreign affairs as his view on foreign policy was missing in
his speeches in the run up to the LS polls. I mainly pointed out lapses that Nehru committed as a foreign
minister," he said. There has been a consensus on the foreign policy as India has borrowed the legacy
introduced by Nehru, Singh said. "Nehru was a great prime minister but failed as a foreign minister. His
two major mistakes were Kashmir policy and China for which India is paying dearly till date," he added.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

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