In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, distinguished historian Niall Ferguson expressed that despite the United States actively pursuing India as part of its Asia strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aware that India possesses various options and is not obligated to make an unconditional commitment to U.S. foreign policy.
During the conversation with Kalli Purie, Vice-Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief of the India Today Group, and Rahul Kanwal, India Today News Director, Niall Ferguson remarked that while India has grown closer to the U.S. in recent times, the nature of the relationship is "highly contingent on the scenario." He emphasized that India's alignment with the U.S. is not akin to the NATO alliance in Europe, and he highlighted the complexities involved, especially in the context of potential conflicts like those related to Taiwan.
Ferguson pointed out that in case of a conflict over Taiwan, he doesn't envision India taking significant actions due to the proximity of its conflict with China, coupled with economic reasons for the tensions. He underscored that India's involvement with the United States is not an unconditional alliance and cited Prime Minister Modi's active participation in the BRICS summit as an indication that India prefers to keep its options open.
Speaking from the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Ferguson shared insights into India's growth story, predicting that China's growth rate would decline to low single digits in the coming decade, while India's growth would remain robust. He commended India's transformation, especially in FinTech, noting that the country has overcome old perceptions about stagnant infrastructure growth. Ferguson praised India's dynamism and highlighted its status as a free society with a free press and elections, contrasting it with China's one-party state and centralized Communist Party model. Overall, he expressed optimism about India's future, emphasizing its advantages and societal freedoms.
