President Donald J. Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk along a cordon of cultural performers upon President Trump’s arrival Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India. (Official White House Photo by Shea Craighead)
Sumantra Maitra explains in Spectator USA that Indo-American relations are set to grow even stronger under the Modi and Trump administrations. Maitra writes:
America, and even Trump, enjoy overwhelming popularity in India, especially in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. Republicans have recently recognized the value of attracting highly educated Indians, who tend to be socially and fiscally conservative.
Indian policymakers have been happy with the US pivoting away from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Trump’s moves towards eventual economic decoupling from China has potential to be very good news for India — the only country in Asia with a ready manufacturing base, unlimited labor, and comparatively free and democratic polity — to take over supply chains to American companies.
Trump, facing re-election, will cherish a deal with India. Modi, who faces a slowdown in economic growth at home, will try to play his more successful foreign policy cards, portraying India as the biggest maritime power in Asia and a more favorable US ally than Pakistan.
Differences remain, however. There is hope on the American side that India will lower tariffs for American goods, such as motorcycles. India, meanwhile, views American reservation over military tech-transfer as a Cold war hangover, hampering a more full-scale alignment, even though they are interested in showcasing growing military ties, which Trump also wants to tout as an example of his deal-making prowess.
