Former president Barack Obama completed a three nation tour to China, India and France recently. In his first visit to India after leaving office, Obama met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, addressed a Leadership Summit sponsored by the Hindustan Times newspaper, and held a town hall meeting with young leaders where he discussed what it means to be an active citizen and make an impact — and how the Obama Foundation can support emerging leaders in this effort. He also met with Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Some key points Obama made in India reported by Financial Express:
“The world’s oldest democracy and world’s largest democracy should be a defining partnership of 21st century.”
“If India and the United States work together, there is no problem that we can’t solve.”
“We can’t unwind globalization, we can’t make sure that AI doesn’t exist, but we can invest in people.”
“Youth is India’s biggest power.”
“PM Modi and I met because if India plays a larger role not only in Asia but on the world stage, it will be good for everybody. ”
“For a country like India where there is a Muslim population that is successful, integrated and considers itself as Indian — which is not the case in some other countries — this should be nourished and cultivated.”
Obama followed in the footsteps of Bill Clinton and George Bush who also visited India after leaving office. In our view the President Obama’s visit was not particularly significant and none of his points or speeches displayed his past dexterity in understanding India or offered any new insights. Perhaps he accomplished more in his private meetings.
