Editorial: Democracies Must Have Cheaper Energy, or Autocracies Will Dominate Global Economy; Energy to Enhance Peace and Reduce Inflation & Climate – US-India SCEP Sec. Jennifer Granholm & Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
October 9, 2022 – Part 1 – India’s Pre-Visit Expectation, given that what India buys from Russia in three months is about what the European Union buys in an afternoon.
On February 4, 2022 in Beijing, President Putin and President Xi Jinping entered into a world changing “No Limits” partnership with “no forbidden zones.” Russia’s proxy war against us and our NATO allies started on February 24th. That President Putin believes he has exhibited patience of a Saint over twenty years to restructure a new paradigm – “security for all” – is relevant to his partial motive and to reassure us that he is calibrated, no matter his military’s continuing debacle, on a near daily basis, in Ukraine due to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected Churchillian “line in the rock”: “I don’t need a ride; I need ammunition.” That every Ukranian has become “brave Horatius” is why Ukraine is now Russia’s Vietnam on steroids. A headache that will remain an un-needed migraine for decades if a just and fair Peace is not negotiated soon.
In mid-September in Samarkand during SCO Summit, both President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke publicly and privately got commitment from President Putin that was salutary. After all, both autocracies and democracies must protect their economies from hyperinflation in food and energy if any government is to survive – a warning our Abraham Lincoln made clear to all governments in his Gettysburg Address.
In that context, China first, Hungary second, and India after-the-War secured cheaper energy from Russia. Autocracy and Democracies unite for cheaper energy. Our President Biden has done a yeoman’s job to protect everyday hardworking Americans from suffering the boomerang effect of our Russia-Sanctions after February 24th Invasion. In fact, our Midterm Elections are affected by the economy and Covid- and war-based resulting recession.
We look forward to Minister Puri’s continued engagement with our government and private sector to enhance United States becoming an even greater Energy Partner with India, beyond the already heady $20 billion buy of American Energy by India.
We – the United States – need to do more with India so as to offset the No Limits Partnership between Russia and China, while welcoming both China and India (along with proven “Black Sea Grain” efforts by Turkey’s President Erdogan & SG Guterres) to help bring this War to an end and prevent Armageddon, a closer possibility given Russian conventional war ineptitude, while restoring to Ukraine her sovereignty and territorial integrity. It can be done. I’ve proposed a 6 Point Peace Plan.
So, the indomitable PM Modi’s get-it-done Minister Hardeep Singh Puri must be welcomed by every American such that India feels in fact and deed to be our American “No Limits” Partner, and then, the Democracies win!
Ravi Batra, Co-publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Herein below, then, is India’s pre-visit expectations:
October 5, 2022
Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, will lead an official and business delegation to Washington DC and Houston, USA, from 6-11 October 2022.
In Washington DC, Hon’ble Minister will co-chair the Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP), to be held on 7th October 2022 with HE Ms. Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, USA.
The revamped USISCEP was launched in accordance with U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. President Joe Biden at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April 2021.
The partnership continues to advance energy security and innovation; scaling up emerging clean energy technologies; and deploying technical solutions through 5 pillars:
(i) Responsible Oil and Gas Pillar (ii) Power and Energy Efficiency Pillar (iii) Renewable Energy Pillar (iv) Sustainable Growth Pillar (V) Emerging Fuels and technologies.
Hon’ble Minister will interact with World Bank Officials on Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure. He will also participate in two executive roundtables with USA India Business Council in Washington D.C. and with USA India Strategic Partnership Forum in Houston.
Hon’ble Minister will also hold discussions with CEOs of US based energy companies.