While the road to the White House no more remains bumpy for Modi, now that he is the Prime Minister, a lot of hard work is needed to ensure it remains smooth in the future

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an interesting relationship with the United States of America. The country, which in the past, was reluctant to allow him entry, is today rolling out the red carpet for him. First it was Democratic President Barack Obama who welcomed Modi to the White House, and now it is Republican President Donald Trump who hosted Modi over a state dinner in the same building. By the way, Modi is the first world leader whom Trump hosted for dinner in the White House ever since the latter took charge in January.

To his credit Modi has left behind the past and moved on to forge new relations of friendship with the US leadership. Modi has also steadily built upon the strong blocks that have been placed by his predecessor Manmohan Singh in the strategic partnership. And to his credit, Trump is building upon the base that Obama had set in the India-US relations. In fact, despite all his dislikes for Obama’s policies, Trump has ensured continuity in relations with India.

A lot of credit also goes to the Indian diaspora in the US that has played an important role in building up the relationship, first between Modi and Obama and now between Modi and Trump. To keep them in good spirit, Trump, in his election campaign speech, had pledged that if elected, India would have a true friend in the White House. “And that is now exactly what you have — a true friend”, he told Modi. Trump also added that India’s relations with the US has never been stronger and better. One must not forget that during his poll campaigns Trump had also borrowed Modi’s catch words, “Abki baar, Modi Sarkar” to spin it as “Abki baar, Trump Sarkar”.

This was Modi’s fifth visit to US in the last three years. Bureaucrats in New Delhi had deliberately kept the public expectations low for the ‘big meet’ between Modi and Trump. They indicated that it was not important to always look for ‘big deals’ and ‘big ticket’ announcements during every visit. Because, this time was actually an opportunity for Modi and Trump to get to know each other and build a rapport.

While there are concerns for India with regard to Trump’s ‘America First’ policy and the fear of cut down of H1B visas impacting Indians, diplomats are optimistic. They believe there is going to be synergy between Modi’s ‘India First’ and Trump’s ‘America First’ plans. The recent joint venture agreement between Tata Advanced Systems limited and lockheed Martin for the joint manufacturing of F-16 fighter jets is just one of them. The purchase of 22 unarmed drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of the US for the Indian Navy, is another.

Obama too was pushing for more jobs for the Americans. In fact, in 2010, when the deal for Boeing selling planes to India was clinched, Obama acknowleged that it would create jobs for 50,000 Americans back home. Trump is doing the same in a different way. And Modi too is interested in seeing India surge ahead. Modi has often made it clear to the world: “India is here to create jobs, not to take them away.”

This time too, in his speech Modi was categorical that the convergence between his vision for a “new India” and Trump’s vision for “making America great again” will add new dimensions to the India-US cooperation. “I am very clear about the fact that India’s interests lie in a strong, and prosperous, and successful America. In the same way, India’s development and its growing role at the international level are in the US’s interest.”

India has just the same expectations from Trump as it had from Obama. Or possibly a little more. Since Trump termed Modi as a “true friend”, there are expectations that the US will back India in its aspirations for bigger roles. And support during problems, as friends do. The membership in Nuclear Suppliers Group is just one of them. India needs US’s backing in its fight against terrorism. By cutting down aid and support to Pakistan, and creating pressure, the Trump Administration can  be helpful in containing the violence in the South Asian region. After all, India is not the only victim. The US has big stakes in Afghanistan (which is bleeding constantly despite the Nato forces staying put there for so many years now). Somewhere, America’s Pakistan policy has not played out well. It is time to rework on it to reassure India and Afghanistan.

The Trump Administration, on its part, has tried to assure India of its support against terrorism. Just hours before meeting Prime Minister Modi, his State Department designated Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist. later, the India-US joint statement mentioned the terror entities, including Ibrahim Dawood (mentioned as D-Company), that are targeting India and US.

While Modi and Trump may be on same page on several issues, they know how to deal each other on differences too. The Paris agreement on climate change is one aspect. Iran and West Asia are the others. India would not want the US-Iran, US-Qatar conflict impact its relations with any of these countries.

While the road to the White House no more remains bumpy for Modi, a lot of hard work is needed to ensure it remains smooth in the future. As President, Obama had said in January 2015, that the new partnership between India and US will not happen overnight and is going to take some time and patience. Obama’s “Chale saath saath” slogan remains relevant with PresidentTrump as well. n