From the
India-US Strategic News and Discussion Thread post
Rudradev wrote:Pakistan has nothing to offer any trading bloc by its presence, so we may not have to try very hard to exclude it! In fact, that is why Cameron may have been so outspoken against Pakistani terrorism while visiting India. He sees an emerging UK-India relationship as key to establishing a new alliance that refurbishes Britain's international influence independent of both Washington and the EU. It is interesting that he kept using the term "special relationship with India"... it is as if Cameron wants to replace the erstwhile special relationship between Washington and London, with another one that features London playing Washington's role and New Delhi playing London's role!
It may be the intent of Britain to assume that role, however I think the economic power may be shifting far too much in India's way for anything like that to have any chance.
I think, there is much potential in giving a fillip to the idea of Commonwealth. Without any supporting framework, it is an open competition between India and China in the world markets for resources and minerals, which may not often go India's way considering that the Chinese economy is 3 to 4 times bigger than India's, and allows them to muscle in. Another trading block, where preference would be given to India, rather than China, can even the odds in India's favor.
A Commonwealth FTA would in fact go a long way in ensuring that India gets favorable terms in countries from Canada, Australia, English-speaking Africa, etc, places rich in minerals.
However a Commonwealth without Britain in the middle is a non-starter. Britain is the connecting link between the ex-colonies of the erstwhile British Empire.
India should consider a policy where India assumes British role of the British Raj fame, whereas Britain assumes the role of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, a titular figure.
Secondly in order to bring about this new arrangement, India should use Britain's shoulder to shoot. The British, and their other white colonies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) still have something that other people in the Commonwealth countries covet - the economic opportunities, the immigration opportunities. Britain on the other hand, needs more skilled workers, who can re-energize their moribund economy. They need fresh blood, fresh ideas. New skilled immigrants could provide that. They simply have to be far more discriminatory in deciding whom they allow in. Of course, some countries of the Commonwealth would be willing to give market concessions to British companies as well. In any case, in order to resuscitate the Commonwealth, easier visa policies would be a must!
India needs to expand its economic horizon, and if the Commonwealth provides this opportunity, why not? I do think, David Cameron is willing to go on a new journey, keeping some distance from both EU and USA. India is still the jewel in British
crown treasury and gives them the most hope!
Thirdly Britain can function as India's aircraft carrier parked just on the coast of EU, the biggest single market in the world.
If Britain was looking for what it could offer India in exchange for a 'special relationship', then there may be some ideas floating around.
