How will Biden as President deal with India?

 *How will Biden as President deal with India?*

Once Joe Biden becomes President, he would continue to be friendly towards India and business would increase further and other cooperative efforts will stay at the same level.

However to balance out, he will have to keep good relations with Pakistan too.

He would lessen the tension with China, he would be cautious due to Trump’s allegations of him and his son financially benefiting from China.  

A number of restrictions against immigration imposed by Trump will be removed or reduced.

There has been news in Indian papers about Biden expressing his displeasure on India’s actions in Kashmir and CAA. 

As no such news appeared in the US, this statement cannot be confirmed. 

However, in all probability, it might be the handiwork of some anti-India elements active in Biden’s campaign and one will have to wait and watch.

A Biden presidency will deepen India-US ties thanks to rising China, but when it comes to hugging Modi, the Democrats might remember how Modi lent himself to the Trump campaign.

*Why Trump, in reality, wasn’t great for India*

Donald Trump was very happy to address stadium full of crowds with Modi. He almost got an endorsement with Modi speaking the words “Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar”

But if you look at issues, the Trump presidency hasn’t been great for India.

1) His protectionist policies have hurt the Indian economy and his xenophobia has hurt Indian immigration visa-seekers more than all the Muslim countries put together.

2) Donald Trump has forced India to not buy cheaper oil from Iran and Venezuela. 

3) Trump forced India to buy more expensive oil and gas from the United States, even pushing for long-term commitments that aren’t viable. 

4) Despite the India-China border tensions, Donald Trump hasn’t given India waiver from an American law that threatens sanctions on countries purchasing arms from Russia.

5) Trump raised tariffs on imports from India, on everything from steel to rubber, causing a “mini trade war” with India. 

6) He has removed preferential treatment given to Indian exports, further hurting the Indian economy at a time when it’s been bleeding. 

7) A host of changes to US visa policies have made it harder for US firms to hire Indians on H-1B work visas. This has hit the Indian outsourcing model hard.

*Why Biden will be better for India than Trump*

The Biden administration  is expected to be more reasoned, mature and act towards India as if it were a friend.

It may not club it with China and other countries on issues of trade, climate change, oil and defence exports.

Biden is most likely to have a second look at the US-Iran nuclear deal. That can open up Iranian oil and also strategic space for India with Iran in the Middle East. 

Considering everything, Biden should be good for India, though he is never keen to see relations with India in the personalised format that Modi prefers, and see them more as government-to-government relations.

The Biden presidency won’t embarrass us with offers such as mediation on Kashmir. 

Just look at how Trump recently insulted India by saying it has ‘filthy air’ and Biden tweeted saying that’s not how you talk about friends.

The Biden presidency will give India and the US a chance to put their national interests above domestic politics at a time when China is getting belligerent.

- Dayanand Nene