With Donald Trump now likely to return to the White House, it looks like the prayers of a lot of Indians have been answered, particularly in the establishment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Trump, even though he was still three votes short of getting the majority needed to actually take the White House.
The reasons for India wanting Trump back are quite obvious.
One, of course, is Trump’s anti-China position, which aligns well with the Indian strategic position. Two, tariffs on China could possibly lead to a rethink or revival of the China plus one strategy, which might lead to more investments in India. But that apart, Trump’s position on issues like Pakistan, even Bangladesh, if one were to go by his Diwali wishes just ahead of the elections, seem to be good for India in many ways.
Then of course, the close bond between Trump and Modi, particularly since the “abki bar Trump Sarkar’ remark by the latter during the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, Texas in 2019, just before the 2020 elections, cannot be ignored. Even though Trump lost that election.
Although Trump’s transactional attitude and his compulsion to deliver on his domestic promises means one can’t take his pro-India position for granted, some of the things that India has been wanting for a long time like stronger position against China, are likely to come through, sans the sanctimonious human rights baggage of the Democrats, say some analysts.
This obviously needs to be balanced against things like tougher trade and tariffs and the opening up of the Indian market, and of course immigration, which would impact not just IT , but also the pharma and textiles sectors. However, India Inc apparently feels it can deal with that, having experienced it during his earlier term.
Overall, not just the establishment, but most Indians seem to believe that Trump in the White House is going to be a good deal for India. Whether or not that is a correct assessment or just wishful thinking, only time will tell.
Keep Watching StratNewsGlobal for more insights into the US elections and its implications for India, the region and the world.
