Bridging the Tech Divide

Away from the media gaze, an informal exchange of ideas and views between Indian and American thought leaders that coincided with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance set the stage for discussions focused on AI and fintech, apart from other strategic matters. The off-camera discussions have been a useful forum to facilitate sharing of opportunities and areas of cooperation alongside an assessment of obstacles and differing perceptions. Despite differences over tariffs that the US and Indian governments are seeking to iron out, there is a sense of optimism over business prospects in emerging technologies where India is seen to have a skill base and an entrepreneurial system. Indian and American businesses are keen to exploit likely synergies that fit in with initiatives like Transforming the Initiative Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) concluded during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on February 13 at the White House. The Indian side has been keen on leveraging cooperation in emerging technologies and building secure supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals. India has leapfrogged in the fintech sector on the back of a secure biometric identity system like Aadhaar and this interests American businesses. Indian infrastructure projects like GIFT City in Gujarat offer the plug-and-play opportunities US investors are looking for as they come without the usual red tape of municipal and state-level clearances.

Grabbing the F-35 Offer

US Vice President JD Vance repeated President Trump’s “verbal” offer to India on the advanced F-35 fighter in Jaipur. Some recent reports claimed irregularities in the production of the jet and others point to the cost, with the reported base price at $80 million per plane. The utility of such expensive hardware and the licence conditions are relevant factors. On the other hand, there is a view that India could consider acquiring a limited number of F-35 fighters for strategic reasons. For one, the offer is not being extended to Pakistan and the plane, even with all the likely stringsattached, will give China a lot to mull over.

NRC Check in Assam

Soon after the Centre announced that short-term visa holders from Pakistan will need to leave India, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered a crackdown on persons with Aadhaar cards who are not on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or have not applied for inclusion. Sarma said in certain districts the number of Aadhaar numbers exceeds the population. These districts are the ones that have a demographic influx from Bangladesh. Verifying identities, said Sarma, is important to ensure citizenship benefits flow only to those who are eligible.

Dubey Is Not Stopping

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam took the focus away from a discussion on judicial “overreach” with vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar weighing in on the issue. While Dhankhar spoke of constitutional provisions to make his point, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey went a step further and said the Apex court’s pronouncements were cause for civil unrest. BJP distanced itself from Dubey’s remarks, but sentiments over the judiciary-parliament tussle became inflamed after the Supreme Court appeared to be considering a stay on the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Pak Farce

Pakistan’s ‘offer’ of a joint and ‘neutral’ probe into the Pahalgam terror attack was so laughable that no one took it seriously. The fate of previous proposals is a fair indication of what such efforts amount to. Pakistan offered to cooperate in investigations after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks but whenever a lead, a phone number or an address, was shared, Pakistani agencies dutifully reported that no suspect could be traced. On the Pakistan government’s continued inability to arrest Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders, the line trotted out was that they had received relief from the courts. It was another matter that judges and prosecutors in the 26/11 cases changed so quickly that no meaningful court proceedings took place.

Chinese PR

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has been on a public relations overdrive, regularly tweeting on cultural exchanges and positives in the bilateral relationship. The outreach is the result of a tentative thaw that saw China agree to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. On the other hand, China’s role in diluting a UN Security Council statement on the Pahalgam attack points to how deeply it is invested in Pakistan. Its support to Pakistan’s call for an ‘impartial’ probe is to be seen in similar light. The slip shows and takes the sheen off the PR drive.

From Greece with Love

Somewhat under the radar, India-Greece relations are making progress with a focus on maritime security and shipbuilding. Despite a long coastline, India has lagged in shipbuilding expertise and is looking to make up for lost time. Official delegations are travelling to and fro and academic and strategic interactions, including non-governmental ones, are on the rise. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Greece in 2023, followed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelling to India the next year, laid the foundation for the cooperation. As a result of high-level interactions, India-Greece cooperation has hit the high gear.

ChinaDonald TrumpgeopoliticsGreeceJD VanceNarendra ModiPakistan