Pivot to india biden harris pitch for supportive mutually beneficial relationship with new delhi

Pivot to india biden harris pitch for supportive mutually beneficial relationship with new delhi

Allaying fears that a Democratic American presidency would be detrimental for India, the ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris unveiled a foreign policy brief that rhymes with New Delhi’s interests. Over the Indian Independence Day weekend, the duo not only touted their personal India connect – Biden reminded everybody of his role in passing the India-US nuclear deal while Harris played up her Indian heritage – but also promised a zero tolerance approach towards terrorism, including cross-border terrorism – a reference to Pakistan’s time-honoured strategy vis-à-vis India. Further, a Biden administration would also work with India to support a rules-based, stable Indo-Pacific, and counter China’s aggression in the neighbourhood.

This clearly presents an attractive alternative platform to the Donald Trump administration. The truth is a rising, belligerent China brings American and Indian interests closer today. Given this reality, the Biden-Harris ticket offers a more stable and predictable India-US relationship as opposed to Trump’s somewhat erratic, transactional and unilateral approach.

In a world with diverse levels of development, alliances can’t be predicated on a give-and-take paradigm alone. Shared values are equally important. This is where both India and the US have to realise that in a world being transformed by China’s rise, neither can do without the other. New Delhi and Washington need to bring this fundamental understanding to other parts of their relationship, including on trade and visas. It’s welcome Biden has said he will increase the number of visas offered for permanent, work-based immigration, exempt from any cap recent graduates of PhD programmes in STEM fields, and eliminate limits on green cards. Only a more liberal visa policy can help the US counter China’s huge population advantage in tech talent, besides fostering the bonds of collaboration with other nations.

Similarly, by offering India a liberal trade deal, Washington will strengthen New Delhi economically and balance Beijing. New Delhi too should not confuse self-reliance with the pipe dream of self-sufficiency. Maybe trade cannot be divorced from geopolitics in the post-Covid world. But that makes it all the more incumbent on India to open up its economy and do trade deals with friendly countries. Likewise, it must keep its polity open and democratic, to shore up its soft power alongside greater hard power. Overall, if Biden and Harris are offering an open, collaborative vision that pushes back against populist forces and is good for the world, it’s good for India too.