TEHRAN(Bazaar): Donald Trump’s unilateralism caused many problems in foreign relations of many countries even including European or many other allies of Washington all over the world. Now, many US allies including India hope to enjoy adopted new foreign policy of Joe Biden, the elected US president in order to reconstruction of their foreign damaged national interest during his term of presidency.
India is one of these states who suffered many hard damages in her foreign relations during Trump era, from her heavy and strategic investment in Chabahar Project to purchase of Iranian crude oil as one of the traditional commercial partners and customers of Iran which all stopped during Trump term of presidency. Now, India seems to be happy of coming back Democrats to power which could makes New Delhi able to continue its common projects with Iran specially in case of Chabahar Port and purchase of crude oil.
In this regard, we have talked to Prof. Bhakti Manohar Desai, the Head of Dept. of Political Science, B.K College Belgaum and Research Scholar of Karnataka University. You can read the full text of Bazaar News Agency interview in continue:
Bazaar: How do you evaluate the Iran-India relations during President Biden’s term? Will we be witnessing any Improvements?
Desai: The wise Rumi said “If you are looking for a friend who is faultless, you will be friendless”
This very quote by the great Persian poet Rumi aptly defines the friendship between Iran and India, their friendship is not faultless but if the two nations fail to overlook the faults, they will end up losing a very valuable friend.
My take on your question is in the first place why should Indo-American relationship define and dictate the camaraderie between Iran and India. Bilateral relations between New Delhi and Tehran should not be dictated by the whims of Washington. India and Iran are two independent nations with mutual strategic interests. Both have common interests in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Moreover, stronger ties between Iran and India would bring strategic and economic benefits to both the countries.
Having said this one cannot deny that International actors, ever changing international scenarios and power calculations have often forced Iran and India to make bitter choices against each other under duress. Moreover, many times respective national interest obligations of both the countries have pushed New Delhi and Tehran into troubled waters with each other and cooled down relations. The trump era saw sanctions against Iran and pressure on India which created major hurdles in bilateral ties between both the countries. But in spite of that what was strongly evident was the resolute political will on part of New Delhi and Tehran to keep up their rapport. The recent back to back visits of India’s defense minister and External affairs minister to Iran substantiate the fact that notwithstanding difficult situations both countries are committed to friendly relations.
India and Iran have weathered the Trump storm and I firmly believe that they will fare better during Biden’s presidentship. Though we should not expect a total U-turn in terms of foreign policy from Biden but his approach and vocabulary are definitely milder. This would give Iran and India ample room to warm up their cooled relations and boost their friendship further. If Iran succeeds in getting the Biden administration to the negotiating table and lift sanctions imposed on it, I not only see a flourishing Iranian economy but also a stronger and steadfast Iran –India rapport on various issues.
Moreover, Iran and India need to understand that they have common interests. They need to stop seeing their relationships through American and Chinese prisms. Indo –Iranian camaraderie should not be based on the dictates of another country but on the common interest that these two nations share with due consideration to the congeniality between the Iranian and Indian people.
Bazaar: As you know India has stopped her activities in construction of Chabahar port of Iran currently because of sanctions imposed by Trump administration. While we have been witnessing some signs from the Indian side to rejoin this Project during past few days. Do you see any appetite in the Indian government to start work in Chahbahar again soon?
Desai: Chabahar port in my opinion is a golden corridor for Iran and India to expand their economic and strategic interests across Central Asia. The port is an ambitious project with tremendous potential and promise for both Iranian and Indian geo-strategic as well as economic interests. Most importantly Chabahar which means “four weather “is a beautiful symbol of all-weather friendship between India and Iran. The port is special and pivotal to the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tehran. Hence it should not fall prey to proxy wars between scheming International actors. It is evident that heavy US sanctions have taken a toll on the pace of the project. But India fully understands the geo-strategic, economic as well as emotive importance of Chabahar in its relations with Iran. And I am of the opinion that in spite of the setbacks India remains dedicated to her commitments in Chabahar. The need of the hour is some serious “out of the box” thinking and fresh initiatives from New Delhi and Tehran to revamp the Chabahar project. The recent back to back visits of India’s defense minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs minister S Jaishankar are strong affirmations that India is committed to Chabahar and is positively rethinking its engagement with Iran.
Where there is a will there is a way and recently New Delhi has shown strong political will not only to rejoin Chabahar but also to initiate stronger relations with Tehran.
Bazaar: Generally, how do you evaluate the Indian government’s attitude in Biden’s election as the US president? Does BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) prefer Mr. Biden or Trump for mutual partnership?
Desai: Irrespective of who is elected President of America the truth remains that uncozy relations with China, especially defense and security concerns coupled with issues of terrorism have entailed India to continue to engage with the US. Though Biden might not be as assertive as Trump in his narrative of China, given the recent confrontations at Galwan valley the Indian government fully understands the exigency to continue to keep a strong rapport with the US. The fact that PM Modi reached out to Mr. Biden to congratulate him over his victory indicates the positive approach of the Indian Government to work with Mr. Biden.
When it comes to foreign policy the BJP as a party has always endorsed closer ties with the US irrespective of who is elected President. Though PM Modis’s Bonhomie with Trump was much popularized, one can now see the BJP also endorsing the camaraderie that Modi and Biden shared when the latter visited India as Vice-President.
In terms of party Ideology as far as foreign policy is concerned the BJP’s stance has been that of realism vs Nehru’s idealism. It believes India’s foreign policy should be based on her national interests. Hence, I believe that the BJP led national government is bracing itself to work with Biden administration.
Bazaar: Some sections of the US media have mentioned the fact that India will be one of the main choices of President Biden for Trade partnership in order to control China. Do you accept this assumption?
Desai: Yes! Definitely considering the track record of Obama administration where Biden served as Vice-President, I definitely see Biden looking at India to control China. Right from the pivot Asia policy to lifting of sanctions on India, it was very clear that India was the omphalos for both Obama and Biden’s Asia Pacific strategy. In fact, as Vice-President Biden led US Senate’s approval for the India-US nuclear deal and several anti-terrorism legislations which went down well with India. The Obama-Biden administration had seen the US rooting for India as a key entrant of their Indo-Pacific strategy. Biden then had remarked that by 2020 US and India should be close friends. Biden’s probable new Secretary of State Anthony Blinken while addressing the Indian American community had stated that India would be a key partner in engaging with Beijing. Especially in the post pandemic world where all economies have taken a hit, China seems to have emerged stronger. Biden and his team fully understand that only India has the economic and human resource potential that could help them tackle the growing assertiveness of the dragon. Biden has already said that America needs to ally with other democracies to counter growing Chinese influence. Biden’s statements as Vice President as well as his rhetoric after getting elected indicate that he knows very well that the only path to tackle Beijing is via New Delhi.
Interview by Vahid Pourtajrishi
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