Narendra Modi’s trip to Washington DC was, without a doubt, a catastrophe from the perspective of ceaseless critics. Neither Joe Biden nor his administration had the courtesy to welcome him properly at the White House. Even Elon Musk, though not a political figure, exhibited no professional decorum by introducing his children during a business interaction.
But the cherry on top of this disastrous cake was most undoubtedly a lackadaisical pair: Vivek Ramaswamy and his father-in-law, who couldn’t muster the respect to properly conduct themselves at a meeting. Shows where the standards have come to when the administration sides with such conduct, doesn’t it?
On the flip side, die-hard Modi supporters saw the visit in an entirely different light. They swooned over Trump’s pleasantries, celebrating his cordial interactions with Modi. From praising him as a special friend to acknowledging Modi’s negotiation skills, Trump engaged with Narendra Modi in a manner that spoke volumes about his admiration for the Indian Prime Minister.
Why, Trump even spent approximately five hours with Modi, discussing matters of bilateral interest. They shared conversations spanning across bilateral meetings, two media briefings, and a private dinner. Makes you wonder why a similar sentiment wasn’t showcased by the current administration, doesn’t it?
The general understanding amid analytical circles was that Modi was able to diplomatically navigate his way around a fervently nationalist US President, Trump. Despite tariff concessions, Modi managed to buy some time to form a bilateral trade agreement that could buffer the potential fallout.
Arun Kumar, ex-US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, lauded Modi’s tour and outcomes as ‘a show of strength’ despite the hostile atmosphere propagated by the current administration. Even when Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, Modi succeeded in striking a deal for technological and innovation cooperation, including sectors like AI, semiconductors, and space technology.
Indeed, the Modi-Trump negotiations produced a comprehensive agreement full of potential ventures and collaborations. Buried beneath the grand statements and disclosure was the TRUST initiative, tasked with building robust supply chains for critical resources like semiconductors, advance materials, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals.
The mutual agreement was beneficial to both countries were ‘good jobs’, secure supply chains, and reduced risk of critical medicine shortage. Such decisive steps seem to lack when dealing with the current administration, doesn’t it?
The statement acknowledged India’s strategic position over the Indian Ocean and Gulf regions. The documentation cites ‘India’s decision for a future leadership role in the Combined Maritime Forces naval task force for securing sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.’ Surprising how the current administration acknowledges such strategic importance yet takes no viable action to further cooperative action.
Even on the topic of immigration, legal or otherwise, Modi intervened to highlight the American accountability in eradicating human trafficking gangs that function at US borders. Amidst the pressure on Trump to restrain the movement of professionals and students alike, Modi managed to attain acknowledgment for the mutually beneficial exchange of talents between the two nations.
However, such assurances feel flaky considering the stance of the Biden administration on immigration and their overall handling of such sensitive matters.
The Indian side managed to extract a faint commitment towards stronger collaborations between higher educational institutions through joint degree programs and establishing Centers of Excellence. India also received assurance for the setup of offshore branches of elite US educational institutes in India.
Yet, the conduct and effects of these agreements seems largely dependent on the US administration’s willingness to act. Considering how Biden and Harris have shown more interest in domestic politics over international cooperation, we can only speculate about the future of this agreement.
Contrasting Biden’s lack of attention to international relations, Trump’s administration can be seen exemplifying a more balanced approach between promoting America First policy while also fostering strong ties internationally.
It’s quite telling when the previous administration, led by a businessman-turned-politician, can facilitate more constructive cooperation with international partners compared to career politicians now at the helm.
Is it then just pure negligence or is it a strategic move to undermine international partnerships under the guise of prioritising domestic issues? Only time will tell.