With the elections United States (US) presidential elections just 10 days away, the dispute between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris takes on special importance for India, which has intensified its relationship with Washington in recent years as a strategic counterweight to China. This week, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in New York on her second visit in two months to promote investments and coordinate with US officials, reflecting the priority India places on ties with the US regardless of the next leadership. .
Frequent visits by Indian officials, such as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, reveal New Delhi’s anxiety over the election result. Although the relationship between both democracies has proven to be strong, each candidate offers a very different approach on key issues such as trade, security and international alliances.
For India, the outcome of this election will directly influence its trade and strategic policies. Trump promises a “zero tolerance” approach to the trade deficit, which would include heavy tariffs on Indian imports and could complicate bilateral trade. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, would follow a strategy more aligned with Biden, focusing on issues such as climate change and renewable energy, maintaining a vision of broad and multilateral cooperation.
Another key factor is the position of both candidates regarding the Quad alliance, which includes the United States, India, Japan and Australia, a coalition that has evolved as a security bloc in the Indo-Pacific to confront the growing influence of China. . Trump, who revived the Quad in 2017, has promoted a more confrontational approach, while Harris, following Biden’s lead, seeks an alliance with broader priorities, including issues such as infrastructure and health.
In India’s relationship with Russia, there are also clear differences. Harris and Democrats are seeking a tougher stance toward Moscow due to the war in Ukraine, while Trump has said he could negotiate a quick solution to the conflict, which could benefit India and its ties with the Kremlin.
Trump’s focus on the economic relationship and his transactional style contrast with the more diplomatic vision of Harris, who would prioritize human rights, a sensitive issue for India given its internal situation. However, both Trump and Harris value India as a key ally, and New Delhi will continue to closely watch how the election results could shape the future of cooperation between the two nations.
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