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Modi-Trump meeting went well beyond expectations

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Geeta Mohan
Geeta MohanJun 27, 2017 | 19:17

Modi-Trump meeting went well beyond expectations

The Modi-Trump meet is a good start in forging a partnership with an administration that just took over the oldest democracy in the world. Two outsiders who have become the core of the inner circle in their respective nations have now found a way to move towards a stronger India-US alliance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in their first meeting exuded such confidence in each other that has given a fresh impetus to a relationship that many worried could be on a downward trajectory. The firm handshakes and the bear hugs have laid to rest those apprehensions. At least for now.

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The meet was meticulously planned to keep it low-key yet not to miss out on what Modi is known to do, that is, to engage the Indian diaspora, to meet with the top business honchos. Days ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US, the scathing attack on India by President Trump after US pulled out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Ministry of External Affairs and the mission in Washington DC had to work very hard to ensure that the visit goes off smoothly.

The realisation of India as one of the biggest markets and the fact that India has offered to help boost the American economy and create jobs, which is top priority for the Trump administration, did help matters.

President Trump was harsh on India regarding Paris climate agreement, but he was speaking to the domestic audience and moving to achieve his campaign promises. A novice in politics, President Trump might be far from being politically correct, but the businessman in him has ensured that the astute politician Prime Minister Modi convince Trump of the transactional benefits in doing business with India. And the fact that the two leaders hit it off only adds to getting things done. That political will in foreign policy is paramount for ties to not become stagnant stands true even today.

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The personal touch. Invitations from the PM for the Trump family to visit India, inviting daughter Ivanka Trump to head a US entrepreneurial delegation to India and for the first lady to host the prime minister ahead of the working dinner were efforts made by both the sides to go beyond business as usual.

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PM Modi apprised the Trump administration of the leading economic reforms that are underway in India beginning with the passing of the GST bill. (Credit: Reuters photo)

The political will was visible in the detailed joint statement that was issued after the bilateral talks. Even as both sides were getting ready for talks, the biggest diplomatic achievement came through when Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin was designated a global terrorist by the State Department. Putting him under SDGT (Specially Designated Global Terrorist) list was a pre-requisite for his name to figure in the joint statement.

At a time when the Indian administration has been reeling under tremendous stress to bring back normalcy in Kashmir, the designation of the chief of a militant group most active in the Valley is a resounding endorsement against Pakistan-backed terror, cross-border terrorism which was spelt out in detail in the joint statement.

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Foreign secretary S Jaishankar said the discussion on Pakistan was "broad and detailed".

"New Mechanism will be established to tackle terrorism. The two leaders called on Pakistan to ensure that its regions are not used to nurture terrorism," he said. The paragraph in the joint statement on terrorism read, "They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, D-Company, and their affiliates. India appreciated the United States designation of the Hizbul Mujahideen leader as a specially designated global terrorist as evidence of the commitment of the United States to end terror in all its forms."

Beyond security, the biggest focus for President Donald Trump is the economy and all aspects of strategic partnership will be viewed by the Trump administration through the transactional prism.

What does India have to offer?

Well, Prime Minister Modi made sure that President Trump sees intent and political will in the boosting of both the markets. During the course of the conversation Modi apprised the Trump administration of the leading economic reforms that are underway in India beginning with the passing of the GST bill.

Also, while the issue of H1B visa restrictions did not specifically come up during the bilateral talks, the point was put across of how Indian professionals in US add and contribute way more to the US economy and enable job creation. Even the defence side has a lot of deals coming America's way which would lead to job creation and upward mobility for the markets.

For President Trump, job creation was the top focus which not only finds mention in the joint statement, but even during the press statements he made sure the message was sent across.

"I look forward to working with you, Mr Prime Minister, to create jobs in our countries, to grow our economies, and to create a trading relationship that is fair and reciprocal. It is important that barriers be removed to the export of US goods into your markets, and that we reduce our trade deficit with your country."

This later reflected in the joint statement which read: "The leaders committed that the United States and India — leading engines of growth in the global economy — should intensify their economic cooperation to make their nations stronger and their citizens more prosperous. Noting that extensive economic and tax reforms launched in their respective countries will unlock immense economic opportunities for both countries, the leaders committed to further expanding and balancing the trade relationship and to removing obstacles to growth and jobs creation."

In the give and take between two countries, this is as transactional as it can get. The one big plus being the fact that it helps matters if the leadership grows a fondness for each other. The "personal chemistry" quite evident in this case.

While both leaders balanced their stand on China by not explicitly mentioning the South China Sea, the joint statement did, "reiterate the importance of respecting freedom of navigation, overflight, and commerce throughout the region; call upon all nations to resolve territorial and maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law".

In all, it seemed like both sides managed to reach a common meeting ground for the countries to set the ball rolling on economic and on strategic cooperation. The foreign secretary addressing the media had called this visit by far said "the most productive of all prime ministerial visits to the United States".

In the endeavour to find "prosperity through partnership" by tapping on the convergences and addressing the divergences, PM Modi said, "We consider the USA as our primary partner for India's social and economic transformation in all our flagship programmes and schemes. I am sure that the convergence between my vision for a 'new India' and President Trump's vision for 'Making America Great Again' will add new dimensions to our cooperation."

Last updated: June 28, 2017 | 13:17
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