Prime Minister Modi’s journey to Washington, D.C. was framed a colossal catastrophe by his detractors, who were always on the ready to seize every opportunity to undermine him. They made a mother lode of the fact that the US President did not extend a personal welcome on Modi’s arrival at the White House. Amongst other perceived slights was President Trump doubling down on reciprocal tariffs during a shared press meeting and Elon Musk’s decision to bring his kids to a business forum was seen as a display of disrespect.
Moreover, relentless critique followed the Prime Minister in the form of Vivek Ramaswamy and his father-in-law who looked down upon him while comfortably nestled cross-legged in a meeting with an individual ostracized by Trump. These critics seized on every opportunity to portray the visit as a total collapse of diplomacy, attempting to further their negative narratives against the Prime Minister.
However, Modi’s ardent supporters viewed the visit through a contrasting lens, celebrating it as a triumph in international relations. They enthusiastically pointed out the part where Trump provided warm accolades to Modi, referring to him as a unique companion and a superior negotiator. Their attention was also drawn to Trump’s rewarding of nearly five hours of his time to Modi enclosed within bilateral gatherings, dual press interactions, a private dining experience.
The supporters journeyed further into the depths of positivity by highlighting how Trump gifted Modi a book symbolizing their ‘joint journey’. Yet, this dichotomy between Modi’s critics and supporters only serves to obscure the more nuanced reality.
Some balanced analysts and experts have a relatively different take to the extreme viewpoints of Modi’s die-hard critics and supporters. They argue that Prime Minister Modi was successful in charming an incandescent US President who was passionately riding a MAGA wave and striving for America First. The visit was seen as a maneuver to strengthen bilateral ties, even at the cost of making tariff-related concessions.
Arun Kumar, a former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce linked with the US-India liaison for nearly two decades, described the visit as a ‘masterstroke’, specifically in the context of impact and results. Although Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs cast an ominous shadow, Kumar emphasized the significant headway made in regards to innovation and technology collaborations, including AI, semiconductors, and space technology.
The joint press release at the close of the discussions was filled with intricate details of potential ventures and partnerships. One such key initiative was the enigmatic TRUST initiative, outlined in the 18th paragraph of the 33-point joint statement, aiming to establish reliable supply chains for semiconductors, crucial minerals, advanced materials, and pharmaceutical products.
The statement asserted that the investments would ‘create good employment, diversify vital supply chains and reduce the risk of life-saving drug shortages in both countries’. This suggested a significant recognition of India’s strategic and security responsibilities particularly over the India Ocean and Gulf regions.
It makes note of ‘India’s decision to embark on a future leadership role in the Combined Maritime Forces naval task force’, a measure to safeguard maritime passages in the Arabian Sea. This not only highlights the growing influence of India in the global geopolitical arena but also indicates significant advancements in the US-India relations journey.
The subject of immigration, legal and illegal, was not overlooked either with Modi striving for a wider perspective that considered the United States’ role in dismantling human trafficking units that operate on the US borderlands. Amid the immense pressure to stifle even foreign professionals, research experts and students’ transits, an allowance was made to grasp that the ‘movement of students, employees has mutually benefited both countries.
Should the preference move towards the legal motion of learners, India has received a somewhat indistinct promise that a strengthened bond would be established between the higher learning institutions. A mutual effort to build joint degree programs, create centers of excellence, and the possibility of setting up offshore campuses of premier US educational institutions in India were all indicated.
While the trip to Washington D.C. constituted a whirlpool of contrasting opinions, an assessment of the outcomes suggests that there were notable real-world contributions. Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic acumen appears to have navigated through the difficult terrain of international politics, in spite of the lingering controversial tariffs issue.
Overall, testimonies like the personal moments shared with President Trump, the launching of the TRUST initiative, India’s leadership role in Combined Maritime Forces, and commitments for future educational collaborations underscore the potential for strengthened US-India ties. Despite the clamor of critics, the gains from this tour cannot be easily overlooked.