Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to the US for his first meeting
with President Donald Trump. Trump has shaken up US foreign policy by
challenging several established principles. He has come up with ‘America First’
framework. The American president has a highly personalised approach to foreign
policy. Modi has also imparted his
personal touch to Indian foreign policy. Both leaders have a clear vision for their respective country.
Modi-Trump meeting provides a good opportunity to update where each
country stands in the other’s foreign policy priority. Trump has indicated a
tough line on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and described India as a terror
victim. This is an advantage
for India.
The first meeting between the two leaders will be important. The PM and
Mr. Trump are expected to discuss on the defence partnership, counter-terror cooperation, as well as
cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Will the PM raise contentious issues
like the U.S. pullout from the Paris Climate Change agreement and new
restrictions on H1B visas for Indian professionals?
PM should get the U.S. President to reverse his decision which discriminates against Indian
professionals. He cannot return empty-handed. Modi is likely to highlight the importance of Indian companies to the
U.S. economy.
The meeting will set the tone for the bilateral ties that have seen a
steady growth in the last 20 years. This is an opportunity for the two leaders
to unveil their vision of the bilateral relationship that has grown steadily
over the last 20 years.
New Delhi would want clarity from the Trump administration on the H-1B
regime, the short-term visa for skilled workers which is crucial to Indian
software majors’ overseas business. Trump sees the arrangement as a ploy to
take away American jobs.
Modi enjoyed a good rapport with Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, it
will be interesting to see how his relationship shapes with the
billionaire-turned-politician. Trump not meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif during Saudi Arabia holds a symbolic significance for Delhi.
Past US administrations have spoken out against terror emanating from
Pakistani soil but little has been done on the ground to change that. Trump is
expected to take a harder line. The US
was India’s major defence partner. There is no indication that they (the US)
want to dilute this relationship.
New Delhi is also upset over Trump’s comments that India signed the Paris
deal for “billions and billions of dollars in foreign aid”.
Trump "looks forward" to his meeting with Modi to discuss ways
to strengthen the bilateral ties to "advance our common priorities:
fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth and reforms, and expanding
security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region." You can expect the two
of them to set forth a vision that will expand the US-India partnership in an
ambitious and worthy way of both countries' people. The bilateral talks appear
to be no bed of roses as they come amidst thorny issues like US' plans to
reduce the number of H-1B visa slots that are mainly used by Indian IT workers
and its withdrawal from the historic climate accord.
US energy and technologies, including natural gas, are helping to build
Prime Minister Modi's vision for a new India and creating thousands of US jobs
in the process. India said it signed the Paris deal not under duress or for
lure of money but due to its commitment to protect the environment.
Apart from ways to enhance trade and business cooperation, Modi and Trump are expected to discuss
defence ties.
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