In late January, the leader of the United States, the world’s oldest democracy, and the leader of India, the world’s most populous democracy, shared a phone call. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the “warm conversation” while the White House issued a statement, which emphasized that the United States considered India to be “a true friend.” In response, Quartz announced the inception of a “bromance,” further positing that President Trump might be “India’s BFF.”
Cute rhetoric. But there’s real reason to expect that the new administration is prepared to bolster the country’s relationship with India. As such, it’s high time to start thinking about how America should move forward with its eleventh-largest goods trading partner.
Trump’s decision to reach out to Modi, which preceded contact with the head of any major European nation, is significant. It’s hardly surprising that the two are simpatico. They come at each other on equal terms—as unrepentant patriots and guardians of economic national interest. (Trump even adopted a version of Modi’s campaign pledge “This time a Trump government” to appeal successfully to Hindu American voters in a viral video). Trump flipped 217 “blue” counties in the election largely by vowing to put “America First,” which meant, among other things, redrafting and tearing up rotten trade deals. The campaign rhetoric has morphed into a governing principle of “Buy American, Hire American.” In 2014, Prime Minister Modi launched Make in India, an initiative “Devised to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.” The next year, India attracted $63 billion and replaced China as the top destination for foreign direct investment. Substantial job creation followed.
A Trump-Modi Relationship Could Change the Trade World | The National Interest
