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'''Barack Obama's visit to India''', was a [[state visit]] to [[India]] by the [[List of Presidents of the United States|44th]] [[President of the United States]], [[Barack Obama]] in November 2010. He was the 6th U.S. President to visit India after Presidents [[George W. Bush|Bush]], [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]], [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]], [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] and [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]].<ref name="TOI20101006">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6694694.cms|title=Obama to arrive in India on Diwali night|first=Chidananda|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref> He became the first U.S. President to undertake a visit to India in his first term in office.<ref name="bb20101005"/> On November 8th Obama became the 2nd U.S. President ever to address a [[joint session]] of the [[Parliament of India]]. In a major policy shift Obama declared U.S. support for India's [[United Nations Security Council#Permanent members|permanent membership]] of [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref name="nyt20101108">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/world/asia/09prexy.html|title=Obama Backs India for Seat on Security Council|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl|date=8 November 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="bbc20101108x">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11712268|title=Obama confirms U.S. strategic shift towards India|last=Reynolds|first=Paul|date=8 November 2010|work=[[BBC]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref> Calling India-U.S. relationship a defining partnership of 21st century he also announced removal of export control restrictions on several Indian companies and concluded trade deals worth US$10 billion which are expected to create 50,000 jobs in the U.S. during this visit. In a joint statement Prime Minister Singh and President Obama concluded that their meeting is a historic milestone as they seek to elevate the India-U.S. strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of their nations and the entire mankind.<ref name="toi20101108x"/> The visit was part of a 9 day trip to Asia which is the longest foreign trip undertaken by Obama and also includes stopovers in [[Indonesia]], [[South Korea]] and [[Japan]].<ref name="ut20101106">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-11-02-obamatrip_N.htm|title=Obama packs much into 9 days in Asia|date=6 November 2010|work=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref>

==Background==
[[ Image:Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg|125px|right|thumb|[[Barack Obama]].]]
The visit which is in response to an invitation extended by Indian Prime minister [[Manmohan Singh]] was announced by Obama in June 2010.<ref name="bbc20100604">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8721806.stm|title=Obama to visit India in November|date=4 June 2010|work=[[BBC]]|accessdate=8 October 2010}}</ref> He will be accompanied by first lady [[Michelle Obama]]<ref name="Hindu20100604">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article446164.ece|title=Obama visit in early November|last=Lakshman|first=Narayan|date=4 June 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref> Announcing the trip Obama remarked "We value our partnership...because of what we share and where we can go together," and added that the two countries shared a vision of the future built on "security and prosperity."<ref name="wsj20100604">{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704025304575285622455912604.html|title=Obama Plans November India Trip|date=4 June 2010|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref>

Quoting [[Max Müller]] Obama said "Whatever sphere of the human mind you may select for your special study, whether it be language, or religion, or mythology, or philosophy, whether it be law or customs, primitive art or science, you have to go to India." Because, he said, "some of the most valuable and instructive material of the history of man are treasured up in India and India only."<ref name="toi20100604x">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Obama-pledges-to-make-history-with-India-in-November-visit/articleshow/6010228.cms|title=Obama pledges to make history with India in November visit|date=4 June 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref>

In an editorial published in [[The New York Times]] Obama emphasized that the aim of his trip to India was to increase American exports to India and reduce barriers to Indian market.<ref name="nyt20101105">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/opinion/06obama.html|title=Exporting Our Way to Stability|last=Obama|first=Barack|date=5 November 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref>
==Agenda==
According to [[White House]] the agenda for the visit included the situation in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]], bilateral business ties and the world economy.<ref name="Hindu20101002">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article808779.ece|title=AfPak, business ties in Obama’s agenda|date=2 October 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=7 October 2010}}</ref> President Obama was also expected to discuss the issue of a permanent seat in the [[United Nations Security Council]] for India during this trip.<ref name="TOI20100929">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Obamas-pitch-Fix-Kashmir-for-UN-Security-Council-seat/articleshow/6647486.cms|title=Obama's pitch: Fix Kashmir for UN Security Council seat|date=September 29, 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref> In an editorial published in [[The Wall Street Journal]], [[Richard Armitage (politician)|Richard Armitage]] and [[R. Nicholas Burns]] called the transformation of the previously poor relationship between India and U.S. as the "most significant triumphs of recent American foreign policy" and called for further deepening of the relationship during Obama's visit. They also suggested USA support India's permanent membership in an enlarged United Nations Security Council.<ref name="wsj20101104">{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304155604575581721120234484.html|title=A To-Do List for Obama in India|date=4 November 2010|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> Burns called Obam's visit an "Extraordinary milestone" in India-US relations.<ref name="hindu20101022">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article843229.ece|title=Obama visit will be a milestone, says Burns|date=22 October 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=11 November 2010}}</ref> An article on Yahoo quoted Obama saying "There still exists a caricature of India as a land of call centers and back offices that cost American jobs. That's a real perception," and that Obama wishes to cast off "old stereotypes,".<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101106/ap_on_re_us/obama_asia Obama calls India creator, not poacher, of US jobs]</ref>

==Schedule==
President Obama reached India on November 6, 2010.<ref name="TOI20101006"/> <ref name="rf05112010"/> He addressed the U.S.-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in [[Mumbai]] on November 6, 2010,<ref name="bb20101005">{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=BA:U.S.&sid=asTyqKI.U9AU|title=Major India Business Summit to Feature President Obama|date=5 October 2010|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=6 October 2010}}</ref> after which, he paid homage to victims of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref name="rf05112010">{{cite web|url=http://resultsfaq.com/obama-visit-to-india-scheduledates-2010mumbai-obama-india-trip-1105658.html|title=Obama Visit To India Schedule|date=|publisher=|accessdate=}}</ref> During his Mumbai stay President Obama visited [[Mani Bhavan]], the home of Mahatma Gandhi. Answering a students question on a visit to [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] Obama said that United States is committed to working “with the Pakistani government in order to eradicate this extremism that we consider a cancer within the country.”<ref name="nyt20101107">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/world/asia/08prexy.html|title=In India, Obama Faces Tough Questions From Students|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl|date=7 November 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> He also ruled out mediating between India and Pakistan and said it was upto the two neighbours to mend fences.<ref name="ndtv20101107">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/will-not-mediate-between-india-and-pakistan-obama-64814|title=Will not mediate between India and Pakistan: Obama|date=7 November 2010|work=[[NDTV]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> He criticized Pakistan for being too slow in the fight against militants.<ref name="bbc20101107">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11706025|title=Barack Obama criticises Pakistan on terrorism fight|date=7 November 2010|work=[[BBC]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref>

During his stay in Delhi he visited [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Humayun's Tomb]] and paid homage to [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] at [[Raj Ghat and associated memorials|Raj Ghat]]. The Obamas then received a formal welcome at [[Rashtrapati Bhawan]] in [[New Delhi]].
===Joint Press conference===
On Monday November 8 Obama and [[Manmohan Singh]] held joint press briefing. The two leaders announced measures to address cracking down on terrorism, sharing intelligence and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. Obama offered to help reduce tensions between India and Pakistan but said that U.S. could not impose a solution. Singh said he would welcome talks, but would not engage in discussions as long as Pakistan's "terror machine is as active as ever before."<ref name="voa20101108">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/U.S.-India-to-Promote-Shared-Vision-of-Peace-Prosperity-106873673.html|title=U.S., India to Promote Shared Vision of Peace, Prosperity|date=8 November 2010|work=[[Voice of America]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref> On the topic of outsourcing Singh stated “As far as India is concerned, India is not in the business of stealing jobs from the U.S. Outsourcing industry, I believe, has helped to improve the productive capacity and productivity of American industries.”<ref name="hindu20101108">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article874242.ece|title=India not stealing jobs from the U.S. : Manmohan Singh|date=8 November 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=9 November 2010}}</ref> A joint statement released by Obama and Singh stated "Prime Minister Singh and President Obama concluded that their meeting is a historic milestone as they seek to elevate the India-U.S. strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of their nations and the entire mankind."<ref name="toi20101108x">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Text-of-joint-statement-of-PM-Manmohan-Singh-and-President-Barack-Obama/articleshow/6890825.cms|title=Text of joint statement of PM Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama|date=8 November 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=10 November 2010}}</ref>

===Address to Joint session of Indian parliament===
[[ Image:Sansad Bhavan-2.jpg|225px|right|thumb|[[Parliament of India]].]]
On November 8, President Obama became the 2nd U.S. President ever to address a joint session of the [[Parliament of India]]. Previously [[Bill Clinton]] had addressed the joint session during a visit in 2000 but [[George W. Bush]] was not allowed because of opposition by Left wing parties. Recently [[David Cameron]]'s request to do so was turned down by Indian government mainly because of protocol issues.<ref name="dh20100730">{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/84902/obama-address-joint-session-parliament.html|title=Obama to address joint session of Parliament|date=30 July 2010|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref>

In his speech Obama profusely praised India and called the U.S.-India relationship a defining partnership of 21st century. He expressed support for India's permanent membership to the UN Security council. He called on Pakistan to deny safe havens to terrorists and bring the perpetrators of [[2008 Mumbai attacks]] to justice. He avoided any criticism of India over Kashmir.<ref name="bbc20101108">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11711007|title=Obama backs India for seat at UN's top table|date=8 November 2010|work=[[BBC]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref> He however was critical of India for not condemning Human rights violations in neighboring Burma.<ref name="telegraph20101108">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/8117783/Barack-Obama-India-visit-President-gives-his-backing-to-Indian-UN-Security-Council-membership.html|title=Barack Obama India visit: President gives his backing to Indian UN Security Council membership|last=Nelson|first=Dean|work=[[The Sunday Telegraph]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref>

==Impact==
Obama was accompanied by a delegation of 200 business leaders including [[Indra Nooyi]] and [[Harold McGraw III]]. U.S. Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]] also joined them in Delhi.<ref name="IT20101029">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/118154/Obama%20Visit/obamas-india-visit-nooyi-to-be-part-of-business-delegation.html|title=Obama's India visit: Nooyi to be part of business delegation|date=29 October 2010|work=[[India Today]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref>
=== Trade Deals ===

Calling India the "market of the future" Obama announced business deals worth about US$15 billion.<ref name="voa20101106">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Obama-Calls-For-More-Trade-with-India-106817488.html|title=Obama in Mumbai Calls India Market of the Future|date=6 November 2010|work=[[Voice of America]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> These are expected to create or support 54,000 jobs in USA.<ref name="reuters20101006">{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A514920101106|title=Factbox: Obama highlights US$10 billion of deals in India|date=6 November 2010|work=[[Reuters]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> These include:

* 30 new [[Boeing 737]] aircraft to [[SpiceJet]] - US$2.7 billion
* 107 [[General Electric F414]] jet engines to power [[HAL Tejas]] fighter jets for the [[Indian Air Force]] - US$800 million
* 6 heavy duty gas turbines and 3 steam turbines to [[Reliance Energy]] - US$500 million
* 10 [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]] planes ( preliminary agreement) - US$4.5 billion
* [[Electro-Motive Diesel]] and [[GE Transportation Systems]] will bid to supply 1000 locomotives to [[Indian Railways]]
* [[Harley-Davidson]] will setup a plant in India to assemble its motorcycles from American manufactured parts

===Removal of restrictions===
Obama announced removal of export control restrictions on India.<ref name="voa20101106"/> [[Indian Space Research Organisation]], [[Bharat Dynamics Limited]] and [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] were among organizations removed from a U.S. list of restricted entities.<ref name="toi20101107">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pariahs-no-more-Isro-DRDO-to-be-off-entities-list/articleshow/6881882.cms|title=Pariahs no more? Isro, DRDO to be off entities list Read more: Pariahs no more? Isro, DRDO to be off entities list|date=7 November 2010|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref>

===Support for India===
Obama declared U.S. support for India's permanent membership to the UN Security council.<ref name="bbc20101108"/> USA also announced support for Indian membership in four multilateral non proliferation groups including [[Nuclear Suppliers Group]], [[Wassenaar Arrangement]], [[Australia Group]] and [[Missile Technology Control Regime]] saying that India had agreed to meeting requirements for membership of all groups.<ref name="aje20101106">{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/11/2010116132349390763.html|title=Obama seeks expanded India-U.S. trade|date=6 November 2010|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="voa20101106"/>

===Agreements===
Two agreements were signed.<ref name="sify20101108">{{cite web|url=http://sify.com/news/india-us-enhance-bilateral-ties-through-six-pacts-news-national-klisEigcffa.html|title=India, U.S. enhance bilateral ties through six pacts|date=8 November 2010|work=[[Sify]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref>
* An agreement on setting up a joint clean energy research and development center in New Delhi.
* An agreement for technical cooperation for the study of dynamical seasonal prediction of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall.

===Memoranda of Understanding===
Four [[Memorandum of understanding|Memoranda of Understanding]] (MoU) were signed.<ref name="sify20101108"/>
*An MoU for cooperation in setting up a Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
*An MoU to establish a India-U.S. Energy Cooperation Program.
*An MoU on Shale Gas Resources.
*An MoU for the establishment and operation of a Global Disease Detection Center in India.

==Reactions==
Indian media was generally positive in its response to the visit and hailed the new closeness between the two countries.<ref name="smh20101107">{{cite web|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/indian-media-hails-new-us-closeness-20101107-17iqx.html|title=Indian media hails new U.S. closeness|date=7 November 2010|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> Commenting on the visit Senator [[John McCain]] stated that he hoped that India and U.S. will increase military cooperation in view of "China's troubling assertiveness". He also expressed support for India joining the UN security council.<ref name="Reuters20101105">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2010/11/05/mccain-sees-india-u-s-teaming-up-against-troubling-china/|title=McCain sees India, U.S. teaming up against “troubling” China|date=5 November 2010|work=[[Reuters]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> [[Jeffrey R. Immelt]] CEO of [[General Electric]] talking about the visit said Obama's was a game changer for both countries and that he saw it as a win-win situation on both sides, if they played their cards right.<ref name="mc20101109">{{cite web|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/obama-visit-can-bewin-win-deal-for-us-india-ge-ceo_497627.html|title=Next decade to be fantastic for GE in India: Jeff Immelt|date=9 November 2010|work=Moneycontrol.com|accessdate=9 November 2010}}</ref>

{{PAK}} - U.S. support to India on the issue of a permanent seat in UN security council was immediately criticized by Pakistan. In a statement Pakistan's foreign ministry said "Pakistan believes that U.S. endorsement of India’s bid for its permanent seat in the Security Council adds to the complexity of the process of reforms of the Council, Pakistan hopes that the U.S. will take a moral view and not base itself on any temporary expediency or exigencies of power politics.”<ref name="dawn20101108">{{cite web|url=http://public.dawn.com/2010/11/09/us-support-for-india%E2%80%99s-unsc-seat-%E2%80%98adds-complexity%E2%80%99-fo.html|title=U.S. support for India’s UNSC seat ‘adds complexity’: FO|date=8 November 2010|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)]]|accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref>

{{flag|People's Republic of China}} - Chinese government responded positively by saying "China values India's status in the international affairs and understands India's aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations and is ready to keep contact and consultations with India and other member states on the issues of Security Council reform."<ref name="Reuters20101109">{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52769320101109|title=China says understands India Security Council desire|date=9 November 2010|work=[[Reuters]]|accessdate=10 November 2010}}</ref>

{{GER}} - [[Guido Westerwelle]] German foreign minister responding to Obama's support for Indian bid for a permanent seat said "Germany backs efforts to restructure the 15-seat Security Council, currently made up the US, China, France, the United Kingdom and Russia as permanent members with other members serving on a rotating basis."<ref name="IT20101110">{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/119423/World/germany-brazil-hail-obama-backing-to-indias-unsc-bid.html|title=Germany, Brazil hail Obama backing to India's UNSC bid|date=10 November 2010|work=[[India Today]]|accessdate=10 November 2010}}</ref>

{{BRA}} - Brazil's foreign minister [[Celso Amorim]] commenting on US support for a permanent seat in UNSC similarly responded positively saying "I am very happy for India, which is a good partner of Brazil. The fact that he (Obama) is mentioning India by name, that the US are accepting a developing country, pulls the door open for other big emerging countries like Brazil or others in Africa."<ref name="IT20101110"/>

=== Speculation on cost ===

An Indian media source reported that the trip would cost US$200 million per day, more than the cost per day of the Afghanistan war, and that 34 [[U.S. Navy]] warships would be involved, an assertion that was picked up by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Michele Bachmann]], and conservative [[pundits]] including [[Glenn Beck]] and [[Rush Limbaugh]] to criticize Obama. The ''[[New York Times]]'' then published that the true figure is "Nothing close to that" and President Clinton's visit to Africa in 1998 cost US$3.6 million per day.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/india-on-200-million-a-day-no/]</ref>

Fox News reported the Indian news' exaggerated claims, and in their news report stated the government's statements of much lower figures.<ref name="fn20101104">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/04/security-entourage-earning-epic-reputation-ahead-obama-india-visit/|title=Security Entourage Earning Epic Reputation Ahead of Obama India Visit|date=4 November 2010|work=[[Fox News Channel]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> According to the ''Hindustan Times'', all 440 rooms of the ITC Maurya hotel have been reserved for the President and his entourage.<ref name="ht20101101">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/specials/coverage/obamavisit/Obama-checking-in-Delhi-s-Maurya-swarms-with-commandos/newdelhi/SP-Article10-620687.aspx|title=Obama checking in: Delhi's Maurya swarms with commandos|date=1 November 2010|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[India – United States relations]]
*[[Reform of the United Nations Security Council]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.usibc.com/usibc/default U.S.-India Business Council]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11709097 In pictures: U.S. President Barack Obama in India (BBC)]
*[http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/November/20101108163323su0.5501454.html Text of joint statement of PM Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama]
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/barack-obamas-speech-at-the-parliament/708277/ Text of Obama's speech to joint session of Indian Parliament]
*[http://www.timesnow.tv/Barack-Obamas-historic-speech---1/videoshow/4357848.cms Video:Barack Obama's speech to Indian Parliament]

[[Category:India – United States relations]]

[[Category:Diplomatic visits by heads of state]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]
[[Category:2010 in India]]
[[Category:Presidency of Barack Obama]]

Barack Obama's visit to India - Revision history

wikademia>Eme: from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barack_Obama's_visit_to_India&oldid=396205601