(L-r): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Kamal Singh\/PTI) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (Jeff Kowalsky\/AFP\/Getty Images).<\/p>\n
In recent years the world\u2019s largest and strongest democracies, namely India and the United States have witnessed an overthrow in the political status quo. In India, it was the May 2014 massive mandate to Narendra Modi-led BJP that enabled the institution of a central government free from the exigencies of dependency on coalition-partners. In the U.S., it is the surprise arrival of Donald Trump as the 45th<\/sup> President, who pulled off it off with a slim margin of victory, indicating a nation most divided since the Civil War of 1860-\u201964. The second similarity between the two personalities is that both have come to dominate their nations\u2019 highest table of power riding on the back of a nationalist appeal and a narrative to make their countries \u201cgreat\u201d again, writes Priyanka Bhardwaj.<\/b> \u2013 @siliconeer #siliconeer #realDonaldTrump #DonaldTrump #WhiteHouse #NarendraModi #India #United States #IndoUSRelations #NaMo<\/p>\n Unlike many prominent heads of state, Modi telephonically congratulated the U.S. Presidential elections and exhibited confidence on bolstering relations with the President-elect\u2019s transition team.<\/p>\n In fact, in India the news of Trump\u2019s win generated excitement and expectations of new levels of mutual cooperation.<\/p>\n In true terms it is too early to state with certainty if trade negotiations, visa restrictions, questions related to military aspects and other areas will be conducted along similar lines as with President Obama\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n For New Delhi it is a \u2018wait-and-watch\u2019 on how President-elect Trump treats U.S. allies, partners and foes once he takes office in January 2017.<\/p>\n India\u2019s position as a traditional ally and never dependent, commercially or economically, on the U.S., and presumably amongst the least irksome to Trump as it did not figure among his \u201ctargets\u201d during his election speeches makes its case stronger.<\/p>\n According to government sources Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar\u2019s recent meetings with top incumbents of the transition team of U.S. President-elect in Washington and New York have quite boosted New Delhi\u2019s morale that Indo-U.S. relations would face no disruption.<\/p>\n Reince Priebus, chosen as Chief of Staff to President-elect Trump, has numerous Indian American friends and has been a champion of Republican outreach to the Indian American community.<\/p>\n India welcomed the appointment of Nikki Haley, South Carolina Governor and a committed advocate of Indo-U.S. friendship, as United Nations Ambassador.<\/p>\n At the time of filing this story a strong candidate and a progressive icon, Democratic Congresswoman and a Hindu by faith, Tulsi Gabbard responded positively to Trump\u2019s outreach and there are rumors that she is being considered for a crucial post in his team.<\/p>\n An area where Tulsi and Trump\u2019s outlook match is the threat of Islamist terrorism.<\/p>\n Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump\u2019s pick for Attorney General, shares strategic interests commensurate with India\u2019s though his views on immigration and visa issues, particularly the H-1B program are worrisome to some Indian companies dependent on H-1B visas.<\/p>\n Since the start of political backlash against the H-1B program, not all Indian IT firms have moved on to new models of hiring more American citizens in the U.S.<\/p>\n But for those that have, are likely to enjoy U.S. support for their outsourced operations that are run in India.<\/p>\n Voicing optimism over Trump\u2019s election prominent businessman Shalabh Kumar, a crucial member of Donald Trump\u2019s advisory council and with links in the Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS in India, is hopeful that Indo-U.S. trade is set to grow four times if India attracts American investments by easing its business environment and introducing tax reforms.<\/p>\n Kumar has high hopes of 4-5 percent growth in U.S. economy and massive growth in employment opportunities under Trump\u2019s tenure that would wipe out any eventuality of Indian IT professionals losing jobs.<\/p>\n In the area of trade agreements given that Trump gloats his business acumen and defines India an attractive market, as he himself has invested heavily in Indian real estate, it is most likely that India would retain its importance as U.S.\u2019 natural partner.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s inclination for bilateral trade deals and India\u2019s historic issues with trade agreements may be a palatable idea to both.<\/p>\n A critical area of immense convergence would be Trump\u2019s and Modi\u2019s views on \u201cIslamist terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n During the run up to the U.S. Presidential elections New Delhi was engaged in fighting terrorism, inflicted time and again by its recalcitrant neighbor, Pakistan.<\/p>\n Defiant terror attacks at Mohra, Tangdhar, Kathua, Samba, Pathankot and then Uri army bases all round the year, besides relentless everyday shelling and brutal killings of Indian army soldiers along the border of the two South Asian neighbors, India and Pakistan, by terrorists based out of Pakistan and enjoying support of its army and Inter Service Intelligence agency have been a major cause of insecurity in the region.<\/p>\n Shifting away from the previous stance of holding dialogs while issuing d\u00e9tentes to Islamabad, Modi has successfully turned a new leaf of vigorously campaigning for a global front to tackling this scourge.<\/p>\n Mounting pressure on Islamabad, last September, the Indian American community launched a White House petition, and two Republican lawmakers, Dana Rohrabacher and Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism moved HR 6069 legislation called the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives to designate Pakistan an untrustworthy ally and a terrorist state.<\/p>\n Modi brought in demonetization, Nov. 8, to clean Indian markets of the forged currency that Pakistan was pumping in to support anti-India terror activities. Already Trump\u2019s election has sent shockwaves in Pakistan though it still needs to be seen if he gives his assent to this bill.<\/p>\n If India succeeds in building a pressure on Pakistan with the U.S. help then it could shift this momentum to ignite synergies in other areas such as enabling India\u2019s quest to be a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.<\/p>\n Something that has troubled India for long is China\u2019s territorial claims, and as Beijing is not in Trump\u2019s good books, it should bring India and Trump\u2019s team together in relation to navigation in South China Sea.<\/p>\n India could also see some benefits in a possible easing of tensions between Russia and U.S.<\/p>\n It is an early bird that catches the worm.<\/p>\n Hence, India\u2019s administration needs to engage and transact fast with Trump\u2019s team to bridge as many gaps as possible.<\/p>\n An invitation to the President-elect for a state visit would in keeping with the protocol of higher diplomacy and renewing the seal of Indo-U.S. bond. Perhaps that would set the tarmac for a Trump-Modi alliance and opportunities for reshaping the edifice of progress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (L-r): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Kamal Singh\/PTI) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (Jeff Kowalsky\/AFP\/Getty Images). In recent years the world\u2019s largest and strongest democracies, namely India and the United States have witnessed an overthrow in the political status quo. In India, it was the May 2014 massive mandate to Narendra Modi-led BJP that enabled…<\/p>\n
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