Evidently, the more things change, the more they remain the same, particularly when it comes to US reticence to endorse India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
The bonhomie between Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and his diplomatic vis-à-vis Nicholas Burns, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, as they appeared together in a conversation on 'The United States, India, and the World,' at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington was palpable.
Both officials were falling over each other, talking about the transformed US-India relationship, the convergence of interests, the blossoming strategic partnership buoyed by the civilian nuclear deal, and sharing perspectives on how both countries are working toward the construction of a global partnership in a variety of functional and regional areas both in South Asia and beyond.
Menon spoke of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called "a partnership of principles and pragmatism," and declared, "wherever we look, whether in the subcontinent or globally, we see convergence. The broader the issue, the more we see a convergence."
Burns not to be outdone, spoke of how "right now, the United States considers India -- without any question -- one of the most important global strategic partners," and laid it on even more noting that "as the two greatest democracies in the world
our two governments see each other as natural partners."
He even said, "Our two countries are the two countries that can lead a revitalization of the new United Nations system."
But when a media person asked why despite the affinity the United States had such a hard time endorsing India's bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Burns went into a spin.
"We are seeing a much greater effort by India and the United States to engage each other at the United Nations and to be partners," he said, with a reference to the open secret that it
was Washington's veto that foiled the chances of India's nominee Shashi Tharoor succeeding Kofi Annan as the new UN Secretary General.
"And, we Americans understand that UN institutions can't forever reflect the world as it was in September and October of 1945. There has to be a modernisation, not only of the effectiveness of the General Assembly but of the Security Council, and we have been open to ideas that will lead to a modernisation of the Security Council -- of its membership."
Burns, however, noted, "We haven't yet, of course, spoken fully to that issue and we haven't yet seen a realistic proposal to modernise. Because our view is that among the various institutions of the UN, the one that's working exceptionally well is the Security Council."
"And, so, we wouldn't want to see some dramatic expansion in the number of countries becoming permanent members, but we would favor as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, as early as her second month as Secretary of State, a gradual and modest expansion in the membership. We've been open to that."
Burns argued, "We have of course, looked at all the various proposals and there hasn't been one that's been successful. So we will have to wait and see before the US pronounces itself on that issue, specifically or offer a solution that's proposed that has the ability to garner 128 votes in the General Assembly, which is what you need to get to change the rules and procedures of the Security Council."
However, the US is strongly in favour of Japan being accorded a permanent seat, and Germany is apparently back in Washington's good graces and also up for renewed US support.
"There is no question that India is playing and shall continue to play a bigger role globally. You see India having been invited to the last several meetings of the G-8 countries -- in St Petersburg and in Scotland, before that and the US wishes very much to see India play that role in the future. Play a much larger role in all of these great international institutions that are at the heart of the international system," Burns noted.