Washington, May 7
Former US President Barack Obama made an exceptional use of his race, went out of his way to develop a personal chemistry with Narendra Modi and moved the State of the Union Address to attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest so as to win over the Indian PM on the Paris Climate Change deal, according to his former aide.
The tactics deployed by Obama to bring India on board, which was the only major power in his way of the climate deal, was described by his former top personal and national security aide Benjamin Rhodes in a podcast interview.
Following the deal by the two biggest emitters, Rhodes said, other countries started announcing their commitments for the agreement. However, the “main holdout was India”, Rhodes said.
“We had to move the State of the Union address to go to (India),” he said, referring to Obama’s visit to India in 2015. He said, “Given that India was more important for the US for its Paris pact, his top advisers told him to develop personal rapport with Modi...and advised him that he should accept the invite and go...And Obama did develop a personal rapport with Modi over multiple meetings.” It was this personal rapport that helped Obama successfully argue his case with India.
Describing the negotiations with Indian officials as an unforgettable experience, Rhodes said, “Obama comes around the corner and the Indian negotiators are there before Modi...they start arguing with Obama. The President had no luck, till Modi arrived.” Modi told Obama he has 300 million people without electricity. “You’re telling me I can’t use coal and, and I got to do all these things,” the Indian PM said.
It was at this moment, Rhodes claimed, Obama brought in his race to convince the PM. Rhodes also claimed Obama told Modi that the US will help India to set up solar power plants. — PTI
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2LvvHlW
via Today’s News Headlines
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