Obama’s decision to lift the arms trade ban on Vietnam on Monday, May 23, is one of the three major steps he has taken to bury the hatchet with America’s old foes, Vietnam being one. True, for the President of the world’s oldest democracy it wasn’t a cakewalk. Obama had to fend off several hurdles from his own administration and activists to withdraw the embargo. He is also the third US President to visit Vietnam after restoration of ties with the latter.

On the foreign front, the ball was set rolling in January this year when sanctions against Iran were lifted. Obama followed it up with a trip to Cuba and now Vietnam. And the US President is set to put his foot on Hiroshima this week. Hiroshima along with Nagasaki faced the US wrath when it dropped atom bombs on the two cities in 1945. The explosions killed 129,000 people. Yes, Obama’s office has ruled out the possibility of apologising but his Hiroshima trip and visit to the memorial for victims of the atomic explosion will be an indirect expression of regret for the twin explosions.

A man who won the Nobel Prize for Peace is busy rewriting history. His recent diplomatic moves to offer an olive branch to traditional enemies of USA can on one hand be written off as gimmicks by his critics, yet even the staunchest of cynics would acknowledge that as he approaches the twilight of his reign, Obama is leaving a legacy that can break new grounds for American diplomacy.

But to eulogise him as a harbinger of peace might not be the correct assessment. The growing might of China is a worrying factor for the US. The Chinese expansion in the South China Sea has been a source of conflict between two of the world’s most powerful nations. Needless to say, it’s not the IS or Taliban, but China which is giving goose bumps to Obama. America’s recent fascination for India exemplifies Obama’s desperation to cobble up allies to pose a challenge to China.  And he couldn’t have asked for better friends than Japan, India and Vietnam to keep China on the back foot.

The drone attacks that allegedly killed Taliban Commander Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in Pakistan’s Balochistan reportedly without Pakistan's consent though exhibits an act of aggression, but it also conveys a strong warning to Pakistan against supporting terrorism and China for its growing fondness for Pakistan.

However, Obama’s recent foreign policy initiatives are full of contradictions. If he were sincere enough to combat terrorism, he wouldn’t be keen on selling F-16 Fighter Jets to Pakistan. The process has hit a roadblock with the Congress refusing to give a go-ahead to the sale on financial grounds. The purpose behind the deal was to lend helping hands to Pakistan in its war against terrorism. But ask any defence expert, he would scoff at the argument. F-16 Jets are not used to fight terrorists. Possibility of Pakistan unleashing a reign of terror on India using the jets cannot be brushed aside.

Another case in point is the Obama administration’s objection to the US House of Representatives approval of the National Defence Authorisation Act which blocks $450 million aid to Pakistan for being soft on the Haqqani network. This runs contrary to America’s positive approach towards expanding defence ties with India and backing it for a membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). It’s time India took a serious note of this duplicity on Washington’s part.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the US in June where his itinerary includes addressing a joint session of the US Congress. During his heart-to-heart talks with Obama, Modi will ill afford to go overboard on the Indo-US bonhomie at the expense of China. The Modi government needs to adopt a prudent strategy to keep a balance between China and USA.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s trip to China gives India the much-needed opportunity to dispel any misgiving China has regarding India’s ties with USA. Our commitment to strengthening relations with China should be spelt out in no uncertain terms. Getting China’s endorsement for a place in the NSG will be a diplomatic triumph for India.

Given Obama’s diplomatic inconsistency, rubbing China the wrong way can be futile for India. Irrespective of Obama’s foreign policy moves, India should read between the lines and not blindly fall in line with America’s plans.