What does Biden-Harris victory mean for India, how will bilateral relations change?
Highlights :
* Continuation in India-US relations will continue
* Comprehensive trade agreement will also be considered
* PM congratulates Biden and Kamala Harris
Whether the President was a Democrat or a Republican in America, it does not affect the development of bilateral relations between India and America. Despite the change in power, it is an ongoing process. This is the most important relationship on the foreign policy front, the basis of which is strategic partnership. That is, it is far above the ordinary 'give and take' formula.
With the victory of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris duo, the Indo-US relationship is sure to continue on many fronts. While vice-president in the Barack Obama administration, Biden has played an important role in America's South Asia strategy.
Starting on a positive note, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted congratulations on Biden-Harris' "spectacular" victory.
For Biden he wrote- Congratulations, on your great victory! Your contribution to strengthen Indo-US relations while vice-president is important and valuable. I am looking forward to working with you once more closely so that Indo-US relations can be taken to great heights.
* In a tweet congratulating Kamala Harris, PM Modi said-
Hearty congratulations! Your success is a pioneer, a matter of great pride, not just for your chits but for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that with your support and leadership, vibrant India-US relations will be strengthened further.
Wadhwani Chair in Indo-US Policy Studies, Richard Rosso told India Today, "The Biden administration will likely maintain a positive momentum in the defense and counter-terrorism areas." There will remain a reason for the trade. The three areas where I see the biggest change are the low pressure on skilled immigration; Renewed cooperation on climate change. "
* Indo-American Policy Continuity
Both sides will see continuity and strengthening on various fronts, especially on the Indo-Pacific front. An initiative took shape during the Obama administration in the form of a vision document on 'Asia Pacific' to address Chinese challenges in the region.
In fact, after the 2015 Obama-meeting of Modi-Obama's 'Joint Strategic Vision for Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region', a separate document was released which focused exclusively on the 'South China Sea'. While the nomenclature changed from "Asia-Pacific" to "Indo-Pacific", the motive remains the same.
Michael Kugelman, senior associate at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said, "India should be pleased with Biden's victory. He is a longtime friend of India. He will continue on the same Momentum that the US-India relationship witnessed during Trump's years Biden will strengthen security partnerships, as well as aim to expand relations in more areas. "
According to Kugelman, this also does not mean that everything will be rosy in the US-India relationship under Biden. Kugelman said, "The Biden administration's willingness to criticize India on rights issues, perhaps a more stringent stance on the Russian issue, the possibility of modest cooperation with China for some time while the Indo-China tensions are on a pitch of upheaval," It highlights all the upcoming challenges. "
Although Biden may not be as aggressive on the Chinese front as Trump, there should be such a big change on the attitude towards Beijing that it changes the policy itself, it will hardly be in Washington's favor. Therefore, America's tough stand on China will continue.
* Reset and change
According to the information received by India Today, the negotiations that were going on for business deals will be re-worked, in such a situation that the process can be prolonged. But, the status of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) has to be restored to reset trade relations between India and the US. Under this, duty free entry is allowed for annual exports of US $ 5.6 billion.
The Trump administration canceled the GSP citing lack of mutual market access. Till it was removed, preferential treatment was taken advantage of by zero or low tariffs on 2,167 products in labor intensive sectors like leather, jewelery and engineering in India.
When both sides recognize the need for 'supply chain flexibility' in the wake of the corono virus pandemic, a comprehensive trade agreement will also be considered.
On the strategic front, there will be some relief for India when the Biden administration revisits Donald Trump's abandoned Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Re-entering the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan (JCPOA) is one of the foreign policy priorities of the Biden administration. This will allow India to bypass Pakistan and grow on Chabahar projects and secure strategic routes to Afghanistan.
Leaders around the world are talking about 'climate justice'. In the case of environmental challenges, the US will have an important role to give level playing fields to developing countries. On 5 November the US officially came out of the 'Paris Agreement'. In this regard, Donald Trump announced three years ago.
On this, Biden said in a tweet that after taking over his administration office, he will join this agreement again in 77 days.
* What are the concerns?
As most analysts believe, there will be positive momentum, but the area between Modi and the Biden-Harris administration will remain a front of human rights.
Kamala Harris and her 'Samosa Caucus' (the five Indian-American congressmen who formed the group), especially Congresswoman Pramila Jaipal, revoked Article 370 granting special status to India's Jammu and Kashmir, followed by internet Criticized restrictions and political arrests. Due to this, the tension had increased so much that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar refused to meet Jaipal during his visit to Washington DC last year.
How the new Biden-Harris administration will react to India's new rules regarding funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in India is also a concern.
According to experts, there are areas of concern but most of these can be managed. For now, the new administration will be the first to address domestic issues, including dealing with the Kovid-19 epidemic.
Ajay Bhutoria, member of the National Finance Committee of the Biden for President Campaign, says, "It's time for America to unite and heal. It is time to leave behind harsh rhetoric and anger to come together for the reconstruction under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris. America's best days are ahead. "
Meanwhile, Indian-American physician Dr. Vivek Murthy is expected to co-chair the Coronovirus Task Force. Biden can announce this task force on Monday. Biden is going to announce on Monday.
Murthy, 43, originally from Karnataka, was appointed as the 19th Surgeon General of the US in 2014 by then President Barack Obama.
SOURCE NAME - AAJTAK
ON. 13.NOV.2020.
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