THE fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the most fascinating politician in India is reflected in his ground-breaking domestic and foreign policies. Modi's bold move to invite US President Obama to be the chief guest on the occasion of India's Republic Day on January 26 demonstrates that he is not at all shy to be closer with the US. His invitation to the US president has surprised both his supporters and his critics.

He wants to show that India under his leadership is not trapped in the ideological moorings of the past. Most significantly, Modi is giving every indication that he has no time for the meaningless rhetoric of “non-alignment.” He will work with anyone and everyone to secure Indian interests, the most important of which for him is to take India on the path of economic and military power. His main objective is to project India, which can play a key role regionally and globally.

When Modi became the prime minister, people normally expected that he would keep American leaders/officials at arm's length because he was denied visa for the US while he was the chief minister of Gujarat. The opposite, however, has now occurred. That means he can ignore his personal grudge for his country's interests

Why did Modi take this pragmatic step?
First, India and the US seem to be natural allies, both are large, multi-ethnic and religiously diverse nations that embraced democracy after colonial rule. India and the US grew closer than any other time in their history during the tenures of both President Bush and President Clinton.

Second, India realises that without American cooperation and technology, it cannot progress economically and become an economic power in Asia.

Third, nuclear power is the fourth-largest source of electricity in India after thermal, hydroelectric and renewable sources of electricity. Nuclear energy is essential for India and the nuclear deal with the US in 2005 provides it. In 2014, India put forward an insurance plan for nuclear suppliers that is consistent with Indian liability law but does not scare away foreign private companies, including the US. India also wants to import solar and other renewable energies as well as shale gas from the US.

Fourth, terrorism highlights a convergence of interests of both countries in confronting this menace. India reckons that it is America that can exert pressure on potential “enemies” that are likely to destabilise the country's stability from within and from the region. Furthermore, large Asian Pacific countries such as Indonesia, Japan, Australia and South Korea are keen to engage India and the US on security issues.

Fifth, India's size, population, skills, resources and potential can make a major contribution as a “global partner” with the US, whose goal is to fashion a comprehensive strategic partnership in South Asia and South East Asia. India's role in the Asia Pacific region stands to be one of the most important new developments over the next decade in the context of a Trans-Pacific 21st century in which the rise of Asia has already started.

Sixth, another area is ripe for enhanced defence cooperation. Modi has highlighted the need to modernise India's armed forces and the US can play a significant role in helping to fill Indian defence requirements.

Finally, Modi is aware that India with its huge potential economy and manpower has the ability to maintain an independent foreign policy by promoting its closer ties with Russia, European Union and the US at the same time.

The invitation to President Obama by Prime Minister Modi seems to be redefining the terms on which India is likely to engage with the world in the coming years. Pragmatism coupled with a more confident assertion of Indian interests is likely to be the hallmark of his government. He has reached out to China, Japan, Australia, Myanmar, Israel among other countries, and will, reportedly, visit Germany and the United Kingdom in near future. It is remarkable that in just eight months into office, the US president, the Russian president, and the Chinese president visited India.

Indian analyst Raja Mohan writes: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to invite Obama, and the American president's acceptance reveal the scale and scope of the mutual understanding that appears to have emerged out of the meeting between the two leaders in September… Over the next two months, Delhi and Washington will have the opportunity to clinch a broad set of ambitious agreements -- ranging from defence and counter-terrorism at one end to economic agreements at the other.”

While India's strategic partnership with the US is welcome to most of its territorially small-sized neighbours, apprehension emanates from stresses when they are not sure of their position in the new geopolitical environment and how such close India-US relations would impact them and their foreign policy.

The writer is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.

(Daily Star)