Bonds with the US will strengthen regardless of who wins the elections, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told journalists in Canberra.
“We have seen steady progress in our relationship with the US over the last five presidencies, including an earlier Trump presidency,” Jaishankar noted. He added that the Indian government is “very confident that whatever the verdict, our relationship with the US will only grow.”
Reflecting on the QUAD grouping, Jaishankar said, “It was revived under the Trump presidency in 2017. It was then moved from the level of a permanent secretary to a minister, also during the Trump presidency.”
He noted that QUAD members met physically even when the world shut down. He said, “it’s interesting, amid COVID when physical meetings had stopped, one of the rare physical meetings of Foreign Ministers was actually of the QUAD in Tokyo in 2020. So I think that should tell us something.”
Trump has emphasised his good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also condemning attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. In his campaign, he focused on US-India relations and emphasised reciprocity on tariffs.
“India is a very big charger. We have a great relationship with India. I did. And especially the leader, Modi. He’s a great leader. Great man. Is a great man. He’s brought it together. He’s done a great job,” Trump had remarked.
But, as in his first term when he took umbrage at India over high tariffs, this time too expect Trump to be upfront over what he sees as US national interests. He may target India’s trade surplus, now running at a little over $28 billion. He may want India to buy more American products including of course mlitary hardware. It was during his presidency that the US cleared the sale of Predator drones to India.
Trump is expected to come down hard on China, he has promised to erect a wall of tariffs to keep out Chinese imports ranging from electric vehicles to consumer goods. This is good news for India, but Trump would want industry to re-locate to the US, not move to other countries. India would have to be nimble and closely read the tea leaves if Trump becomes president.