According to the sheikh, the West had better prepare for superpower India. According to him, both internal and external factors are currently driving India’s huge momentum on the global stage. ‘India is the largest country in terms of population and has been growing slightly faster than China for several years. The country also wants to manifest itself more, which we have seen, among other things, in connection with Russia’s war in Ukraine, where the country simply continues to act.
As for these external factors, the sharp rise in tension between the US and China in particular means that all countries are looking for alternatives. India, according to the sheikh, is in the Sweet spot. ‘The US wants stronger ties, as do the EU, Japan and Russia. India can benefit from the great attention that is given to the country’.
mode
Not for nothing, therefore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to America for the first time last week for a state visit. There he was received in the White House by President Biden, but also by the heads of the largest American tech companies. The visit resulted in several trade and cooperation agreements for India including chip manufacturing and aerospace.
According to India correspondent Lisa Dupuy, Modi is good at presenting himself as “non-Chinese” to American politicians. He is also popular among the Indian diaspora in the United States. Outside his hotel, Modi was greeted and greeted by a crowd of fans. ‘I think they are very fascinated by his conservative cultural politics. And also by the fact that he acts like a prime minister who really wants to move India forward in terms of infrastructure, economy and modernization. He’s been doing it for nine years and people are very happy with it.’
Independent
On the other hand, according to the Sheikh, there are also many things that attract India to Western countries, even though the country likes to go its own course. “Reducing China’s dependency means that a lot of money can go to India, and all these investments are very welcome.”
India is also increasingly concerned about China’s geopolitical influence, especially in its own region in Asia, Sheikh said. India is therefore also open to partners with whom China can be better balanced, even if he stresses that India certainly does not want to become the ‘junior partner of the West’ in the anti-Chinese alliance that America is building. It is a strong, independent country that wants to continue to benefit from all the relationships it has, without choosing. It will therefore continue to strengthen ties with Russia.’
Potential
India has a lot to offer the West, according to Dupuy. Like, for example, the largest job potential of all countries in the world. The country already serves the world in sectors such as the garment industry and manufacturing of generic drugs, but recently India has also been emphatically opening up to investment from outside. ‘This should mainly lead to developments in the IT and software sector. India was already big on call centers. Slowly, this should flow into the production of our phones and laptops, and eventually into the development of new software and products as well.’
According to the sheikh, India can only partially be a full-fledged alternative to the business we are doing with China in this regard. Only India could potentially replace China’s huge workforce, but its economy is very different from China’s. ‘The question is whether they can really develop and open up the labor market. They still have a lot to do. But there are many forces at work to ensure that India tries something like this.”