Namaste Trump! How Donald’s rapport with Modi is a fillip for India- The Week

Donald Trump is known for his U-turns and unpredictability but his presidency will be a boost for India. It’s not just because of his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also due to his approach to the country.

Congratulating Trump on Wednesday, Modi said he is looking forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. “Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity,” he added.

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Foreign policy

He was among the first world leaders to break silence on the violence against minorities in Bangladesh. It is to be seen where Trump stands when it comes to the diplomatic tussle between New Delhi and Ottawa as Justin Trudeau turns a blind eye on violence against Indians by Khalistanis. Trump is also soft on Russia and this could help New Delhi’s ties with Moscow.

Ahead of election day, Trump called Modi the “nicest human being” and even announced that the Indian PM is meeting him during his Quad summit visit before there was an official announcement.

Defence

One of the sectors that will see a growth is defence as Trump, like Biden, would want to counter China by bolstering India’s capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. It was during his first term that Quad alliance between India, US, Japan and Australia was formed to counter Chinese influence.

Trade

There are concerns about trade relations as Trump scrapped or altered international deals, including the Paris Climate Accords and the Iran nuclear deal. Such unpredictability could have repercussions for India too if Trump reneges on existing or future deals. He had earlier said countries like India are levying heavy tariffs on imported items and threatened with reciprocal tariffs. Biden did not show much enthusiasm in negotiating the Free Trade Agreement when he came to power, but Trump might show a renewed interest in this area.

Immigration

Another concerning issue is immigration policies, including the H-1B visa programme, as Trump wanted to increase salary requirements and other restrictions.

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