India should play leading role in region, world: Obama

NEW DELHI: President Barack Obama Tuesday said India should play a more effective and leading role in the region as well as on the world stage.
He said the United States could be India’s “best partner” as he wrapped up a three-day visit to New Delhi by highlighting the shared values of the world’s biggest democracies.
Speaking to an audience of young people, the US president reiterated that the relationship between Washington and New Delhi “can be one of the defining partnerships of this century” but warned the battle against climate change would be doomed unless India was fully on board.
The speech was the finale of a packed visit which has seen a dramatic upturn in an often troubled relationship, including the signing of a new “friendship” declaration between Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“India and the United States are not just natural partners — I believe that America can be India´s best partner,” said Obama after receiving a rapturous welcome from a group of around 1,500 people.
“Of course, only Indians can decide India´s role in the world. But I´m here because I am absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and more just place when our two democracies stand together.”
Obama´s speech was the final engagement on his visit, the centre-piece of which was his attendance as chief guest at Monday´s Republic Day parade — one of the biggest honours that India can bestow on a foreign
leader.“The United States welcomes a greater role for India in the Asia Pacific, where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and disputes must be resolved peacefully,” Obama said.
Obama warned the world does not “stand a chance against climate change” unless developing countries reduce dependence on fossil fuels. “I know the argument made by some, that it´s unfair for countries like the United States to ask developing nations and emerging economies like India to reduce your dependence on the same fossil fuels that helped power our growth for more than a century,” Obama said.
“But here´s the truth: even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if growing countries like India — with soaring energy needs — don´t also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don´t stand a chance against climate change.”
India has balked at committing itself to major cuts in carbon emissions ahead of a UN climate summit in December, arguing that it will not set itself targets that undermine efforts to boost living standards in a country where many of the 1.2 billion population live in poverty.
“Every woman should be able to go about her day, to walk the street, or ride the bus, and be safe and be treated with the respect and dignity that she deserves,” he said.
India was rocked by the fatal gang-rape of a student in Delhi in 2012 that unleashed seething anger about high levels of sexual violence and a round of soul-searching about its treatment of women.
Obama also urged respect for religion in officially secular India, where the election of Hindu nationalist Modi has given rise to fears among the country´s large Muslim minority.“Every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do so free of persecution and fear of discrimination,” he said.
“India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along lines of religious faith, along lines of anything, and is unified as one nation.”
Later, Obama flied to Riyadh leading a heavyweight delegation and to meet new King Salman to shore up ties that have suffered in recent years.
The longstanding allies remain bound by shared interests in regional stability and oil.
Since last year Saudi Arabia has been part of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group.
Members of the US delegation, which crossed party lines and included former Bush-era officials, said they wanted to show support for the US-Saudi relationship.
“I believe it is important that we demonstrate to the Saudis the importance that they represent to us,” said James Baker, secretary of state during the first Gulf War against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
“This is an extraordinarily critical and sensitive time in the Middle East when everything seems to be falling apart. And the kingdom in some way is becoming an island of stability,” said Baker.
Obama and his 29-member delegation arrived for a four-hour stop in the kingdom. Saudi television showed Salman, 79, welcoming Obama and his wife Michelle at the bottom of a red-carpeted ramp before a military band played the US and Saudi national anthems.
In contrast to Saudi women, required to dress head-to-toe in black, Michelle Obama wore dark slacks and a blue top with her hair uncovered.
Salman´s heir Crown Prince Moqren and Mohammed bin Nayef, the powerful interior minister who is second in line to the throne, were among those greeting the Americans.
The US president then boarded a black limousine taking him for talks and dinner with Salman at central Riyadh´s Erga Palace, the king´s private residence where the smell of incense hung heavily in the air.
“Good to see you,” Obama repeatedly said to his Saudi hosts before they dined on Arabic and Western dishes including shish tawook and baked lobster before leaving the kingdom.Authorities deployed armoured vehicles, police cars and radar throughout the city to secure Obama´s visit.
IS released a video celebrating the death ofthe “tyrant Abdullah” and said that “Allah permitting” they will invade the Arabian Peninsula soon, SITE Intelligence Group said Tuesday.