No major change in India-US ties post presidential elections: Think thank expert

For the last three decades, the relations between India and the US have grown deeper, regardless of whether a Republican or a Democrat holds the key to the White House, said an American think tank expert.

In Short

• India is key in US national security strategy
• Trump's return or a Harris win may not change the Indo-Pacific strategy
• Trade policies may differ under Trump and Harris administrations

For the last three decades, relations between India and the US have grown deeper, regardless of whether a Republican or a Democrat holds the key to the White House. This, according to an American think tank expert who said that the results of the upcoming US presidential elections on November 5 might not even have a major impact on ties between India and the US.

"Every American president since President Clinton has visited India and every Indian Prime Minister over the last three and a half decades has visited the United States multiple times. India matters to the US national security strategy. The last three national security strategies have listed India as a key partner, not only in pushing back against the rise of China but in the economic and defence realm as well," Aparna Pande, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute told news agency PTI.

Pande noted that under the current Biden administration the priority, when it comes to ties with India, has been maintaining harmony in the Indo-Pacific region and the Quad alliance’s operation.

“But as you know well, the Indo-Pacific actually was started under the Trump administration. So if President Trump returns, I don't see any change in the Indo-Pacific strategy, because, for him, China remains the key threat and rival,” Pande said. “Since it was under him that Quad was restarted, Quad will also continue to remain just as prominent.”

In the scenario that the Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris wins the heated race, she, too, will likely look to maintain the same geopolitical dynamic.

According to Pande, the only difference that might come to affect ties with India will have to do with trade. In his last tenure, Trump drew a hard line in dealing with other nations by imposing high tariffs and getting rid of the General System of Preferences -- a way of helping developing nations to enhance their trade with other countries. He has already proposed imposing similar tariff rates if re-elected, and will most likely make trade with the US a cumbersome endeavour.

“Under the Harris administration, I don't see trade becoming a problem. However, there may be questions which are asked about...more sort of you know the slightly prickly...on democracy, human rights, and religious freedom," Pande said.