Despite his protectionist attitude that may see cutting down of visas and outsourcing of jobs to India, Donald Trump in White House is expected to further boost India-United States relations on several fronts.
Terming the US-India relationship vitally important, bipartisan, and something that is growing stronger, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Wednesday raised a ‘toast’ to another four years of a robust India-US ‘Dosti’.
President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi promptly congratulated Trump, the President-elect of the United States of America. "Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on being elected as the 45th US President," Modi tweeted. Modi also spoke and congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election, tweeted MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup. However, India's formal diplomatic engagements with Trump Government will formally begin in January when he takes over as the President.
It is expected that Trump Government's relationship with India will remain stable, robust and more engaging. His tougher line on the Islamic State, terrorism and Pakistan may be music to India, nevertheless, New Delhi will also be looking at moving forward together as partners.
Trump during his election campaigns had even asked Pakistan to apologise for harbouring Osama Bin laden and had shown a tough posturing against China. This indicated that he is going to be tougher than Hillary Clinton. New Delhi's growing frustration with Pakistan and Trump's strong stand against terrorism may possibly help strengthen India-US Defence ties and bring Pakistan on board to curb cross-border terrorism in both India and Afghanistan.
On the flip side though, if Trump sticks to talks about curbs on immigration policies and increasing jobs in the US by cutting down dependency in manufacturing and other areas on foreign countries, then India may lose some jobs. And if he cuts down the corporate taxes, the US companies manufacturing in India may be inclined to look towards home. Hence, trade is the only area that can be of concern. But his stand on importing generic drugs to US can bring good news to the pharmaceutical sector.
Some of the former diplomats indicated the India-US ties would see continuity and stability on political, economical and diplomatic fronts. Several Indian envoys who have served in the USA have deep connections with Trump and that could certainly be a great advantage for New Delhi.
India figured prominently and positively several times in his election campaign speeches. For instance, during a rally he said "I am a big fan of Hindu and a big fan of India". He even used Modi's election catch words like Abki baar Trump Sarkar.
Moments after the election results were announced the US ambassador made it clear, nothing changes vis-à-vis relations with India. "Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, Red or Blue on the political map, this is something fundamental to our values and to our core as Americans. And it's something, I'm sure, that can be appreciated by all of us here — from both the oldest democracy in the world, and the largest democracy in the world. The ties that bind our two countries together are built on our shared democratic values, and go beyond the friendship of the American President and the Indian Prime Minister. They go beyond the economic and people-to-people ties," Verma said.