Page 5 - The Indian EYE 021326

COVER STORY FEBRUARY 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 5

sons and daughters. I stand with you Recent disclosures by US agencies on
shoulder to shoulder, and the world “Operation Meltdown,” a crackdown
is ready to welcome your talents,” he on illegal online pharmacies linked to
said, framing trade liberalisation as an India-based syndicate, highlighted
an opportunity for aspiration rather growing coordination between Indian
than a threat. and American authorities.
Boosting India’s Global Image US agencies, including the FBI,
have acknowledged that “coopera-
he India–US trade deal also tion from Indian government agen-
carries symbolic weight at a cies has grown significantly” over the
Ttime when the global order past six months. Such collaboration,
is in flux. Modi told Parliament that though often low-profile, reinforces
the world is “rapidly moving towards mutual trust—an intangible but vital
a new global order” and that India’s ingredient for sustained economic
stature is rising accordingly. “As a partnership.
Vishwamitra and Vishwabandhu, In- At home, the Reserve Bank of
dia has emerged as a trusted partner India has also linked trade agree-
for many countries,” he said. ments with macroeconomic stability.
This perception has been rein- RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said
forced by the international reaction the India–EU FTA and the prospec-
to India’s recent trade diplomacy. tive India–US deal “will support ex-
According to the Prime Minister, ports over the medium term,” even
when India signed the EU deal, “the as geopolitical uncertainties per-
world became more confident about sist. The central bank revised GDP
the greater likelihood of global sta- growth projections upward for the
bility.” After the US deal, he said, first half of 2026–27, describing the
confidence deepened further, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Washing- Indian economy as being “in a good
partners sensing not just stability but spot with strong growth and low in-
momentum. ton, DC, on Wednesday. (@DrSJaishankar/ANI Photo) flation.”
That assessment finds resonance Reform, Performance, and
in Washington as well. Margaret Ma- (FORGE), announced at the inau- This convergence is particular- Global Confidence
cLeod, the US State Department’s gural Critical Minerals Ministerial ly relevant as both countries seek to
Hindustani spokesperson, described in Washington, places it firmly within reduce dependence on disrupted or n his speeches, Modi repeatedly
the Free Trade Agreement as “just a this emerging architecture. politically sensitive supply chains. contrasted the current phase with
step in our long journey ahead,” but External Affairs Minister S For India, it also aligns with domestic Iwhat he described as past inertia.
acknowledged that it reflects growing Jaishankar, who attended the min- goals of expanding mining, refining, “A significant part of our energy is be-
strategic alignment. She noted that isterial, described the discussions as and recycling capacities—key com- ing spent on correcting the mistakes
trade discussions have been accom- “productive and outcome-oriented,” ponents of industrial growth under of the past,” he said, adding that the
panied by high-level engagements on highlighting the strategic importance Viksit Bharat. government has placed strong em-
Quad cooperation, critical minerals, of minerals in global supply chains. A Broader Reset in India–US phasis on “future-ready policies.”
and broader geopolitical coordina- His bilateral meetings with US Sec- Relations Guided by the mantra of “reform,
tion. retary of State Marco Rubio and perform, transform,” he argued, In-
For India, such acknowledgment Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent fur- he trade deal also feeds into a dia has boarded what he called the
strengthens its image as a reliable ther underscored how trade is now wider reset in India–US rela- “Reform Express.”
economic and strategic partner—an intertwined with technology, finance, Ttions that extends into law en- The India–US trade deal, viewed
image that New Delhi has worked to and geopolitics. forcement and security cooperation. through this lens, becomes not just
rebuild, as Modi pointedly remarked, an economic arrangement but a sig-
after what he described as decades of nal—to investors, partners, and do-
policy drift and under-execution. mestic stakeholders—that India is
Trade as a Gateway to serious about long-term integration
Strategic Cooperation with the global economy.
As the Prime Minister summed
ne of the most consequential it up, “We believe 140 crore Indians
aspects of the India–US deal are 140 crore solutions.” By align-
Ois how it spills over into non- ing trade policy with strategic part-
trade domains. US officials have ex- nerships and domestic reform, New
plicitly linked economic engagement Delhi appears intent on turning that
with cooperation on critical minerals, belief into a global proposition.
supply chain resilience, and securi- Whether the deal ultimately
ty-related industries. delivers its full promise will de-
MacLeod said the US is en- pend on implementation and fol-
gaging with more than 55 nations low-through. But as India enters
to ensure “a smooth, resilient and what Modi has called a decisive
trusted supply chain,” particularly era, the India–US trade agreement
for minerals essential to defence, stands as one of the clearest mark-
energy, and advanced manufactur- ers yet of how economic diploma-
ing. India’s support for the Forum on Union Minister Piyush Goyal played a crucial role in negotiations with the US team (ANI) cy is being harnessed to power the
Resource, Geostrategic Engagement journey toward Viksit Bharat.

www.TheIndianEYE.com