ind ia “ US ELECTION 2020 MATTERS TO INDIA ” The US Election 2020 and a look at how US-India
relationship has evolved, and its highs and lows irrespective of whether the President would be a Democrat or a Republican.
The US relationship is the most important of India’s bilateral ties, having grown in recent years on account of China’s belligerence. In the concluding part of a series on the US Presidential election, this relationship has evolved with its highs and lows irrespective of whether the President has been a Democrat or a Republican.
The reason for the drastic change in the geo-strategic outlook can be summarized quickly. India’s rst serious departure from its Non Aligned posture, the 1971 Indo-Soviet treaty, was a response to the continuing US tilt towards Pakistan and the beginnings of a Washington-Beijing entente. In 2020, it is the frightening prospect of a powerful, belligerent and hegemonic China that has helped New Delhi build its relationship with Washington. Clearly, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump recognize the grave threat from China, but their response may be different. While Trump 2.0 may be willing to even more aggressively counter China, Biden is likely to follow a policy of “Congagement”: containment with engagement. To be most effective, India’s China policy —many would argue — would have to be customized to the US’s response and coordinated with Washington. This has already generated, as it should, a robust debate. A rising power like India has three clear strategic choices: Hedging; Balancing; or Bandwagoning.
The relationship with the United States of America matters to India more than any other bilateral engagement: economically, strategically and socially. American Presidents can often make a real difference to bilateral ties, including on trade, on immigration policies, and larger strategic issues. Outside the fringes, the mainstream of political opinion favours stronger relations between the two countries. AntiAmericanism, once the knee-jerk reaction of the Indian elite, seems almost antediluvian today. The Indian diaspora in the US is one of the most successful expatriate communities, and while their political preferences may differ — they all favour a closer bonding between their janmabhoomi or pitrabhoomi and their karmabhoomi. 36 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
A strategy of Hedging offers the prospects of continuing cooperation with China on areas of mutual interest, while building India’s defences and confronting Beijing on a la carte basis at a time and place of New Delhi’s choice. A Biden Presidency may demand continued strategic Hedging. Bandwagoning is a defeatist option of capitulation and accepting Chinese hegemony (“If you cannot beat them, join them!”). That would also exclude the US from the strategic options available; no self-respecting Indian would be comfortable with such an option. Balancing is the most challenging and confrontational option and is likely to be the preferred option of the Trump Presidency. India is not in a position to balance China on its own, and balancing (soft and hard: economic, diplomatic and military) would demand building a coalition with the US and other “like-minded” states.
