Why in news?
India is preparing to work with a new U.S. administration under Joe Biden.
What does this win mean to India?
- Joe Biden’s win is a mixed bag for the government.
- On the one hand, India invested much in the Trump administration, which indicated a virtual endorsement for his re-election.
- On the other hand, Mr. Biden is a long-time supporter of the U.S.-India relationship.
- He brings to his presidency both the comfort of his understanding of foreign policy and the promise of future strategic ties.
What would be the priority?
- Foreign policy itself may not be his immediate priority, given the U.S.’s battle with the pandemic.
- The President-elect’s goal is to heal rifts in its polity and restore the soul of America.
- However, it is clear that he will make moves to reverse some of the Trump-era policies.
What could be some of his moves?
- For India, these could include the U.S.’s return to the Paris climate accord, which would help with its energy transformation.
- It could also include a return to Iran nuclear negotiations, which will facilitate its regional connectivity ambitions.
- He is unlikely to reverse the Afghan pullout and instead might make it a more measured exit.
- On China, he may adopt a less confrontational attitude while maintaining a pushback.
- He may press a hard nerve on the issues of human rights, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
- India should be prepared to hold its own in tough conversations on these sensitive issues.
What could be expected?
- Mr. Biden’s presidency promises a change in leadership style, with broader powers to advisers and process-driven decisions.
- His belief in building up U.S. trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific alliances might be at odds with America’s more transactional trends.
- No sudden moves may be expected, and policy consistency is likely to be preferred to a more personalised summit style.
- As India prepares to adjust its responses to the new dispensation, it would welcome Mr. Biden’s intention to re-energise the multilateral global order.
Source: The Hindu
