Impact of USA President's Policies on India
The current USA presidency was anticipated to benefit India, but it has resulted in significant challenges, including trade wars and geopolitical pressures. His administration has utilized commercial strategies to influence other nations, threatening penalties for resistance.
Trade and Geopolitical Tensions
- The USA has targeted India for its trade surplus and high tariffs, and also its relationships with Russia and Iran, as well as its participation in BRICS.
- Its actions threaten India's core interests and its policy of strategic autonomy, which has been a cornerstone since Independence.
- The disruption in India-US relations extends beyond trade, impacting India's international credibility and respect.
India's Strategic Options
- Recognize the adversarial nature of current India-US relations under the current leadership administration.
- Reject any external veto over India's international partnerships and maintain independent foreign policy decisions.
- Preserve Indo-US cooperation in intelligence, defense, and technology, which remains largely unaffected.
- Avoid submission to bullying tactics, as yielding can lead to greater demands for compliance in the future.
- Emphasize India's historical resilience, as seen in its stance on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and climate negotiations.
India's Diplomatic Position
- India's reputation for courage and conviction provides significant diplomatic leverage, especially among developing countries.
- It's crucial for India to prioritise material interests over symbolic status in international forums.
- Endurance and sacrifice are necessary to uphold India's larger interests, even amidst economic impacts like a potential 2% GDP growth reduction due to tariffs.
Future Considerations
- India's role in hosting the Quad summit and the USA's participation will test the Quad's significance in the US Indo-Pacific strategy.
- Revisions may be needed if the US withdraws from such engagements, impacting the Quad's perceived stability and objectives.
In summary, the USA presidency poses significant challenges for India, requiring strategic resilience and diplomatic agility to navigate complex international relations while maintaining core national interests.