Can Modi’s Alignment With Trump Benefit India?

Timidity in India’s response could be seen in our response to the cuffing of illegal migrants. Indians were among those who received the worst of the American deportation drive. If the response of Jaishankar was any indication, it was clear that Prime Minister Modi would not stand in support of deportees

The much-awaited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit has become a damp squib. Superficialities may prevail in the political discourse in India, and a large part of Indian media focuses on the optics of the event that President Trump received him with warmth at the White House.

Does it help India get out of the crisis it is in? Has Trump extended any support to us in surmounting the strategic or economic problems we face? Instead, the visit has increased our vulnerability manifold. We have only exhibited our weakness that we are ready to play a subsidiary role for the USA in its new avatar as an aggressive country. Trump’s announcement on reciprocal tariffs makes it clear that he is not going to spare anyone, including India, and Modi’s visit has not made any difference.

Indian media is underplaying the effect of imposing reciprocal tariffs. It is also not stressing the point that it will not affect countries that have free trade agreements with the USA. They include Mexico, Canada, and Korea. Should we not take it from a proper perspective that India does not matter in Trump’s scheme of things? There is a pattern in his eccentric behavior.

The average rate that India charges US imports is more than 10 percentage points higher than US levies on Indian goods, according to Cousin’s analysis.

A close look at Trump’s policy reveals that he is leading the USA away from its cherished goal of upholding democracy, human rights, and narrow sectarian regimentation. Though the country has been showing departures and vacillations, overt support for these ideals has been the policy of the USA. However, Trump is trying to make the USA change ideologically. He wants to play a disrupter and rule the world with a stick. The power of capital and technology fuels his aspirations, and the control over natural resources strengthens his actions. It is quite disappointing to look at India’s timid response to Trump’s policy and actions.

Timidity in India’s response could be seen in our response to the cuffing of illegal migrants. Indians were among those who received the worst of the American deportation drive. If the response of Jaishankar was any indication, it was clear that Prime Minister Modi would not stand in support of deportees. The India-US joint statement only endorsed the apprehension that India would accept all the humiliations to its citizens.

“Both leaders emphasised that the evolution of the world into a global workplace calls for putting in place innovative, mutually advantageous, and secure mobility frameworks. In this regard, the leaders committed to streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel, while also aggressively addressing illegal immigration and human trafficking by taking strong action against bad actors, criminal facilitators, and illegal immigration networks to promote mutual security for both countries.”

The leaders also committed to strengthening law enforcement cooperation to take decisive action against illegal immigration networks, organised crime syndicates, including narco-terrorists human and arms traffickers, as well as other elements who threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations,” the statement adds.

Does the statement not fully support the US actions? Does India not accept how its citizens have been treated? The statement does not even talk about how illegal migrants are victims, not criminals.

Another issue of global significance has also found Indian endorsement. It is the suspension of USAID’s operations. The agency has been active in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Europe. In India, USAID addresses challenges of maternal and child mortality, tuberculosis, HIV, and pandemics such as Covid-19. During the past three decades, the agency has helped to save the lives of 2 million children. In the last decade, it has spent almost 1.5 billion dollars in India. The World Health Organisation has expressed its worry over US withdrawal from the humanitarian aid sector.

Instead of resenting Trump’s move on USAID, the BJP has openly come out against the agency, alleging that it has been involved in destabilising the country. The RSS-supported media has begun a campaign against the agency. The campaign is targeting supporters of the Congress and other opposition parties. It is accusing the agency of interfering with the elections in India. The former US diplomat has triggered the issue by claiming that the USAID think tank had supported anti-Modi campaigns during the 2019 elections.

The current campaign against USAID and endorsement of humiliating terms for the deportation of illegal migrants only confirms an all-out support to Trump by the Modi government.

This is a case of political surrender before those who have openly come out against humanity. Trump’s assertions are an open challenge to the world community. His proposals on Gaza are nothing but a new kind of imperialism where the will of the people does not matter a bit.

The political surrender is reflected in Modi’s statement in his joint press conference with President Trump, “President Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" or "MAGA" is well-known to Americans. With the determination of "Vikasit Bharat 2047," the people of India are also moving rapidly towards development on the path of heritage and development.”

“In American parlance, a developed India means Make India Great Again, or ‘MIGA." When America and India work together, that is, "MAGA" plus "MIGA," a "MEGA" partnership for prosperity is formed. This mega-strength gives a new dimension and scope to our goals,” Modi defines the common goal.

Trump defines his ’Make America Great Again' slogan in no uncertain terms. He is attacking diversity and human rights. He is claiming that territory for the USA that could never be its part. He wants ruthlessness to guide his policies both within and outside his country. Is Modi also trying to promote the same image of India? Will his attempt to align with Trump’s policies benefit us? The reciprocal tariff answers the question.

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)