The Indian government may have put the N-deal on hold but that will not prevent Prime Minister from courting South Africa and Brazil, influential members of the NSG.
ABUJA: The Indian government may have put the India-US civil nuclear deal on hold but that will not prevent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from courting South Africa and Brazil, influential members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
A multi-cultural feast awaits the prime minister in Johannesburg, where he reaches in the evening to attend the IBSA summit. Brazilian samba, African dance and Indian kuchipudi will mingle into a harmonious celebration of the cultural richness of the three countries, separated by vast distances but akin in spirit.
The second IBSA summit, scheduled for Wednesday in the South African capital, is set to bring together the largest democracies and leading economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America in closer economic and political partnership.
Energy security, enhancing interconnectivity between people of the three countries, sharing development experiences and managing diversities are going to be reigning themes when Manmohan Singh meets South African President Thabo Mbeki and Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the ballroom of Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
In his bilateral talks with Mbeki and Lula, Manmohan Singh will try to garner support of South Africa and Brazil for the India-US nuclear deal - a diplomatic exercise that is also aimed at getting across the message back home that India may have put its safeguards negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on hold but plans to keep its NSG diplomacy on track.
Although the Indian government has temporarily shelved the nuclear deal due to the compulsions of coalition politics, it is still hopeful of turning the political situation around and pushing its landmark deal with the US through to its logical conclusion, an official source told.
That's why even though the future of the nuclear deal remains uncertain, India will step up its NSG diplomacy keeping its larger quest for energy security in mind, he added.
Manmohan Singh explained to US President George Bush in a telephonic conversation Monday night that difficulties have arisen in implementing the nuclear deal.
This appears to be a placatory gesture by the government to its leftist allies who are opposing the deal on grounds that it will reduce India to a subordinate ally of the US.
Manmohan Singh on Tuesday wrapped up a three-day Nigeria visit, hailed as 'successful' by top Indian officials and which took relations between India and Africa's largest oil producer and its most populous nation to new heights.
The IBSA summit is aimed at expanding political and economic ties and collaboration among the three emerging powers on global issues like the UN reforms, multilateral trade talks, civil nuclear energy and terrorism.
The IBSA countries are confident of increasing their intra-regional trade to $10 billion by 2010.
A joint declaration will be issued at the end of the summit. Several pacts, including in human resources, culture, social development, health and medicines and higher education, are expected to be signed.
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