There are no doubt problems that will need to be overcome, such as those relating to bilateral trade and restrictions on H1B visas which adversely impact Indian professionals and Indian software companies. Biden may not immediately reverse the Trump administration‘s policies which led to these problems, but we have better prospects now than with Trump who had himself formulated these policies. Biden has shown that he takes a broader view on issues such as foreign trade as compared to Trump with his infamous ‘America First’ policy. In a nutshell, my crystal-ball prediction is that the Biden Administration will seek to strengthen Indo-US relations, with China‘s territorial and economic expansionism serving as a catalyst in this regard. Institutional linkages such as through Quad and the 2+2 dialogue will also be further cemented.

• On his first day as US President, Joe Biden reversed a number of the Trump administration policies.
• A question is being asked whether Joe Biden will also reverse some of Donald Trump‘s policies towards India?
• During the last two decades, the Indo-US relationship has been on an upward trajectory.

Within minutes of entering the Oval Office for the first time on January 20, President Biden carried out a blitz by signing 17 executive orders.  Next day, he signed an additional 10 orders related to the coronavirus pandemic. These orders reversed a number of the Trump administration policies and covered areas Biden identified as his priorities on the campaign trail. Naturally, a question is being asked whether Biden will also reverse some of Trump’s policies towards India?In this regard, the remarks made yesterday, Jan 21, by Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary need to be noted. In response to a question at a news briefing, she said: “President Biden, who of course has visited India many times, respects and values the long, bipartisan, successful relationship between leaders in India and the United States. He looks forward to a continuation of that.”

During the last two decades, the Indo-US relationship has been on an upward trajectory whether the White House occupant was a Republican or a Democrat. The Modi-Biden telephone conversation on November 17 endorsed the view that there is bi-partisan support in the US for strengthening what is not just a comprehensive political and economic relationship with India but also a strategic partnership reflecting the emerging global challenges for the world’s oldest and largest democracies, respectively.

After his phone conversation with Prime Minister Modi, a statement from the Biden’s transition team said: “The President-elect noted that he looks forward to working closely with the prime minister on shared global challenges, including containing COVID-19 and defending against future health crises, tackling the threat of climate change, launching the global economic recovery, strengthening democracy at home and abroad, and maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”. China was not specifically named, but one has to read between the lines. After all, the threat to the Indo-Pacific region emanates from which country if not from China?

Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, who has been nominated by President Biden as his Defense Secretary affirmed this when he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on January 19:”If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defense relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership”. Responding to a question submitted before his confirmation hearing, Austin said. “I would further operationalize India’s ‘Major Defense Partner’ status and continue to build upon existing strong defense cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests.”

Tony Blinken, who is Biden’s nominee for the prestigious position of Secretary of State also expressed similar views during his own confirmation hearing when he told members of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 19: “India has been a bipartisan success story of our successive administrations”.

It may also be recalled that during the virtual celebrations of India’s Independence Day organized by the Biden Campaign in 2020, Blinken had stressed that Biden has long been a champion of stronger ties with India. He had asserted: “If you go back 15 years, Joe Biden had a vision for the future of US-India relations. In 2006, he said, my dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States.” Blinken added: ”Well, we’re not quite there, but it’s a terrific vision, and one that I know he will act to realize, as president of the United States.” There are no doubt problems that will need to be overcome, such as those relating to bilateral trade and restrictions on H1B visas which adversely impact Indian professionals and Indian software companies. Biden may not immediately reverse the Trump administration’s policies which led to these problems, but we have better prospects now than with Trump who had himself formulated these policies. Biden has shown that he takes a broader view on issues such as foreign trade as compared to Trump with his infamous ‘America First’ policy.  It may also be mentioned that during his campaign, Joe Biden had taken up a position on issues like CAA and Jammu and Kashmir which was labelled as showing a lack of sympathy for India. These issues could come up in closed-door meetings, but it is unlikely that the Biden administration will raise them in public pronouncements. Working closely with India has become an important aspect of US foreign policy, and it will not be in US interests to undo the closeness in the present global scenario. Additionally, the fact that the Pentagon sees India as a potential purchaser of weapons systems would make it even more necessary for Biden to seek a closer relationship with the Indian political establishment. Therefore, in a nutshell, my crystal-ball prediction is that the Biden Administration will seek to strengthen Indo-US relations, with China’s territorial and economic expansionism serving as a catalyst in this regard. Institutional linkages such as through Quad and the 2+2 dialogue will also be further cemented.

(The author is a retired diplomat) (Courtesy / OPOYI)