Do India And The US Still Need Each Other?

Huge crowds and over-the-top rallies marked the flamboyance of the bond between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi. The optics of the US-India relationship under the presidency of Trump were centred on their shared bonhomie and mutual admiration. The cameras and press were more focused on their hugs, jokes and remarkable camaraderie than the issues they discussed. Though some demands and deals did not go through between the nations, the smiles and PR blitz gave their meetings an aura of positivity. Both the leaders highlighted that they have more in common than one would expect. Trump and Modi skillfully amplified their actions and messages through the media.

The recent election in the US had Indians watching the campaigns and results vicariously. On the one hand, was Trump, who was a known friend and on the other, was Biden. Biden claims to have an Indian connection. But, Indians were more interested in Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris and her ‘roots’ in the motherland. The media attention that Kamala Harris drew in India was out of proportion because she is very much a US citizen regardless of her roots. It seemed like India would be comfortable regardless of which side won.

India and the US have always bonded over being the largest and oldest democracies. But during Trump’s term, it also escalated into a bond of showmanship and bonhomie. Modi’s recent visit to the US was in sharp contrast to the media and PR efforts under the last presidency. It was marked by the glaringly absent fanfare and media noise. Gone are good ol’ buddy hugs. In sharp contrast to Trump’s ‘Howdy Modi’ era, Modi and Biden are business-like and friendly without being over the top. Biden may be low key, but he has been in touch with Modi multiple times since being elected, and this was their first face-to-face meeting. They are saying all the conventional things. However, there is no doubt that there is a solid commitment to working together.

If the desi audience expected Kamala Harris to go the extra mile for Modi, they were sorely disappointed. Kamala Harris did not tweet about welcoming Modi despite Modi mentioning her in his tweets. It must have been somewhat discomfiting for Modi to be gently reminded by Kamala Harris that “it is imperative that we defend democratic principles and institutions within our respective countries…”. Though this reminder was part of a speech that was otherwise flattering and welcoming, it did stand out sharply. It is a gentle wake up call to the changed perception of India’s democracy in the US.

Despite the business-like reception, the US and India are very keen on working together. Kamala Harris said that “India is a very important partner to the US.” This certainly is true, but not just because both the countries are democracies. While the US has created a potential problem for India with the Afghanistan withdrawal, it still does need India on another front. Both the democracies have one worry in common- China and the Indo-Pacific region. Only time will tell if the increased buildup of international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is warranted.

The AUKUS trilateral agreement for the Indo-Pacific region marks the US’s shifting its focus to the region. Kamala Harris has stated that “As relates to the Indo-Pacific, the US stresses on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.” India is ideally placed as a partner to augment its strategies in the region, and this is at the heart of the new Indo-US relationship. The new India-US relationship is now about more than tariffs and trade wars. It is hoped that both India and the US benefit from their cooperation and friendship across all issues under Biden’s leadership. India stands to gain in terms of FDI and trade. Modi has made it clear that India will welcome their business as the US and other countries diversify their supply chains. Stability in the Indo-Pacific regional power equation is in the best interest of both countries. Maybe a business-like casual approach is precisely what we need right now.