Posted on 02/27/2020 9:55:05 AM PST by NobleFree
The visit of the United States (US) President Donald Trump will be remembered for its extravaganza apart from the ostensible chemistry between the two leaders. The visit also resulted in upgrading the India-US partnership to the level of a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The $3-billion defence deal saw India purchase Apache and MH-60R helicopters: A deal to benefit the US military establishment, and upgrading our security environment.
Bilateral relationships bloom only when both sides understand and sympathise with each others concerns. Let us list some of Indias concerns that were left unaddressed by the US: First, we were hoping for a big and comprehensive trade deal, a win-win for both sides. That was not in the offing. Closing such a deal by the end of the year seems highly unlikely. Second, there was no forward movement in the outstanding H1B visa issue and a totalisation agreement. Third, Trump no longer regards India as a developing country. This provides him the rationale for removing India from the list of countries benefited by the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which allows for lower tariff for Indias products exported to the US. Trump was not persuaded to revisit that issue.
Trump continues to repeat that India was the highest tariff country in the world, and that the US has to be treated fairly. The US wishlist includes lowering our tariffs and allowing for market access to US milk, dairy and meat products, a demand India has resisted so far. But our inability to source crude oil from Iran because of US sanctions has burdened us with increased costs for importing crude from the US. The president also hoped for larger investments of Indian businesses in the US and increased oil and gas supplies to bridge the gaping trade deficit.
In fact, none of our national concerns have been addressed by the US. The presidents hurricane visit was meant for his domestic Indian diaspora constituency to garner support from a community that has in the past tilted towards the Democrats. To say that the visit was extraordinary and that Modi is a nice man who is doing a fantastic job means little when looked at from the prism of our national interest.
From the perspective of Indias standing in this part of the world and Trumps endorsement of New Delhis position, again the outcome was less than desirable. On Pakistan, Trump reiterated his willingness to mediate on Kashmir, chose not to criticise Pakistan, claiming Prime Minister Imran Khan is his good friend. On the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India, Trump said that the US could not be counted upon to take any action across 8,000 miles. Clearly, the US is not willing to take sides and India is left on its own to deal with Pakistan in the manner that it chooses. While we believe that we have the capacity to punish Pakistan for any misadventure in India, Trumps statement is hardly any reflection of the warmth of the relationship between the two countries.
In fact, in all the actions of the US running up to the visit of the president and during his stay, one got the feeling that for him America first is a national commitment and friendship with India is conditional upon that. Given the fact that there is likelihood of an agreement between the US and the Taliban in Afghanistan, there was no clarity about Indias role. Given such a deal, Indias position is likely to become even more vulnerable.
Trump gave a veiled warning with reference to the importance of a secure 5G wireless network. He called this network a technology tool for freedom, progress, prosperity where it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship. We are aware that the US neither allowed ZTE nor Huwaei to participate in its 5G wireless network. Trumps statement sought to guide our policy prescriptions by hinting at a possible threat to Indias security if the 5G network were to be laid by Huwaei or ZTE.
President Trump knows where his countrys national interest lies. He wants US troops out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible to make it a talking point in the upcoming presidential election. He has made no commitments on behalf of his administration in combating the increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. He is also aware that India is not a vassal State, which will willingly subjugate its national interest by allowing large-scale US naval presence in this part of the world. Trump wants the trade deficit to be reduced, Indian tariffs to be lowered and US goods, especially agricultural produce, to be accessible to Indian markets.
On top of that, Trump will bat for expanding online networks of multinationals with deep American commercial interests. E-commerce is a new tool to capture one of the largest markets in the world. Has Trump moved even an inch in sympathising with Indias national concerns? The chemistry between the two leaders is the governments single achievement.
Kapil Sibal is former Union Cabinet minister The views expressed are personal
“Why the hell is the American taxpayer supposed to bail out the rest of the world?”
Because after WWII that is exactly what we did. We kept doing so as a part of bribing an alliance to fight the Soviets. It was a successful strategy. But, it worked. Oh, cr@p. Now what? We have been disengaging from that role by fits and starts since the Berlin Wall came down. The World, is upset by our progressive disengagement.
Demographically there are only two major markets left; the US and India. The rest of the developed world, with minor exceptions, has stopped having kids and the normal demographic pyramid looks like a diamond in many cases. The world suddenly realizes that they don’t have any local market and the US and India are the only places they can export to. The US doesn’t really need anything and India is apparently a fairly closed market. China has a worse demographic than most countries due to thirty years of a one child policy. They don’t have a consumer class in the wings ready to support their economy.
So, yes, the world is in panic mode as the US closes itself off and withdraws its support. Now is the best time in history to be an American and the worst time to be a citizen of any other developed nation.
That's not his job!
This is off topic, but something disturbing happened today. I was gassing up at Costco and I chatted with the attendant. He seemed like your average guy but in that four minutes I was exposed to as much hatred for Trump as you would normally get waiting an hour for a plane while seated under a CNN monitor. I said nothing to bring up the subject and he sounded really upset at how horrible Trump was. “Everything’s perfect or great,” he said, mimicking Trump. “Yeah, sure.” I was thinking, Yes, everything IS great. I have never seen it so good.
It’s frightening to find yourself dealing with someone so upset, over, as far as I can see, nothing. And, I am pretty sure he will vote.
Partisan Media Shills update.
[in that four minutes I was exposed to as much hatred for Trump as you would normally get waiting an hour for a plane while seated under a CNN monitor.]
You were witnessing demonic possession.
Youre right, It is disturbing, its way out of proportion to reality, to the point of being completely false.
That is demonic.
I didn't attach that topic tag.
OK
“What was his race/ethnicity?”
Caucasian. Thick, decent beard but not well trimmed. Otherwise, very normal sounding, except for the spewing, unsolicited hatred.
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[What was his race/ethnicity?
Caucasian. Thick, decent beard but not well trimmed. Otherwise, very normal sounding, except for the spewing, unsolicited hatred.]
An audience who never learned to do anything to earn their way out of their parents' basements, and thinks the concept of earning is to blame.
I’ll tell you how bad it is for me General, I’m no longer talking to one of my younger brothers and one of my younger sisters. Both of them hate Trump with a passion. And this was their choice, not mine. Now I know how they felt in 1861.
I have a neighbor that I have been friendly with for 10 years, I joined the Next Door neighborhood app. on that site I mentioned I thought Trump was the best POTUS ever, my neighbor saw what I posted and hasnt spoken one word to me since then!! OH WELL !!!!
I live in a deep red pocket of florida. Refreshingly pro trump in most public areas. Americans are self segregating everywhere to live with thier own kind. Troubled waters ahead for sure.
Ask them to explain their unreasoning hatred for the man and they can’t.
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