NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
India
International
US

Trump and Modi, Friends Without Benefits

Trump has made absolutely no conciliatory gestures to India in trade, policy or immigration. Plus, Obama and Modi were also ‘friends’.
Shakuntala Rao
23 Feb 2020
Trump and Modi, Friends Without Benefits

During Donald Trump’s impeachment the phrase “quid pro quo” became commonplace parlance. It means, literally, “something for something”. [Quo is the ablative singular form of quid.] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, when quid pro quo is used nowadays as a noun, its meaning is exactly what we tend to think: “The action or principle of giving one thing in return or exchange for another” especially “as part of a bargain.”

The grammar curmudgeons among us are scratching their heads to ask if Modi and Trump’s relationship is one of quid pro quo? Not really.

Before Trump, Modi was ‘friends’ with Obama

When Modi was first elected prime minister of India in 2014, it was US president Barack Obama who overturned Modi’s visa ban and paved the way for his red carpet welcome to the United States. Suddenly, Modi’s record in Gujarat—which had led to the ban in 2005—was not too odious and he was invited to address a joint session of United States Congress, which he did in June 2016.

Obama ultimately visited India twice to meet Modi, becoming the only American president to have visited India twice in two years, including once as Modi’s chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

What did it take for Modi to clear his record? According to reports at the time, Modi assured Obama that he was committed to further liberalising India’s economy. During his White House visit in 2014, Modi repeated his promise to “cut red tape, develop infrastructure and make it easier for companies to do business in India”, according to a BBC report at the time.

A suggestive wink in the direction of pro-market policies was all it took to slough off a treacherous record of anti-Muslim violence. In exchange, Obama set to work rehabbing Modi as an important partner in global economic and security alliances. In 2015, White House aides told Politico they were not worried that Obama’s embrace of Modi would create a situation similar to that with then Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, whom the Obama administration warmly embraced before distancing itself, or Turkish President Recep Erdogan, whom Obama exalted as a model leader, before Erdogan set to work cracking down on anti-government protesters and journalists.

In a June 2016 article The New York Times reported this about Obama and Modi, “The two have a public warmth—or chemistry, as the Indian news media like to describe it—and that is likely to be on display this week when Mr. Modi visits the White House for the second time in two years.”

During this and subsequent meetings, India received assurances from Obama that American companies will supply India with civilian nuclear technology and relax immigration rules allowing spouses of H1B visa holders to work legally in the United States and, in return, Modi assured Obama of his willingness to sign the Paris agreement on climate change and reduce India’s carbon emission. The chemistry seemed to have produced tangible results for both countries.

With Trump it is ‘different’

In a May 2019 interview with Rajat Sharma of India TV Modi spoke of both President Obama and Trump endearingly, but his message was clear. While he enjoyed a warm relationship with Obama, with Trump Modi said, it was “different”. Trump introduced him to his family, gave him a personal tour of the White House, and in a particularly baffling comment, Modi claimed Trump could tell him about United States history (from the crucial period when Abraham Lincoln was president and the American Civil War took place) without referencing a single note card. A wide-eyed Modi said to Sharma, “He spoke all from his memory.” While American historians have lamented Trump’s misuse—or use of falsities—about historical facts, Modi seemed to be in awe.

While Trump made an accommodating gesture towards Modi by specially flying in and introducing him at the “Howdy, Modi” rally in Houston in September 2019, Trump was clear in his speech that evening about his priorities and his hard stance against immigration [Indians now comprise the fourth largest group of illegal immigrants to the United States, many overstaying temporary non-immigrant visas, and second largest legal immigrant population].

Trump made no concessions in the H1B visa crisis that has impacted large number of Indian residents or how his government has made it hard to receive immigrant family and student visas. Yet Modi was more than eager to endorse Trump for the 2020 elections when he followed Trump’s speech with the slogan, “Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar.”

If recent news reports are to be believed, Trump’s visit to India will be marked by a variety of trade deals though nothing has been officially announced. There are talks of India purchasing 24 Seahawk helicopters at a cost of $2.6 billion; this on top of the $17 billion military hardware India has agreed to purchase since 2017. Modi has also offered to cut tariffs on varied farm products including chicken legs, turkey, blueberries and cherries, and is reported to be offering to allow some access to India’s dairy market with a 5% tariff [India, the world’s largest milk-producing nation, has restricted dairy imports to protect the livelihoods of 80 million rural households]. Modi’s government has offered to lower its 50% tariffs on very large motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson, a tax that was a particular irritant for Trump, who had then labelled India the “tariff king.”

Trump has tweeted about his trip to India but remains silent as to what he brings to the table during his visit.

Modi’s quixotic rhetoric aside, there is really no evidence of a quid pro quo. It seems that during Trump’s tenure as president—however servile Modi presented himself to be—Trump has absolutely made no conciliatory gestures, in trade, policy or immigration to India. While he publicly speaks of Modi in a complimentary manner and plans to attend a rally in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, there is no evidence of bilateral cooperation.

It seems that Modi is offering India’s public wealth and farmer’s livelihood to someone whom he considers a close friend—a friend without benefits.

The author teaches at the Department of Communication Studies, State University of New York, Plattsburgh. The views are personal.

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Trump-Modi
Trump India visit
Indo-US Trade
Howdy Modi
Namastey Trump
Gujarat
Gujarat Riots
Obama
Modi visa
India agriculture trade
Related Stories
Farmers’ Protest: Centre Invites 40 Unions for Next Round of Talks on December 30

Farmers’ Protest: Centre Invites 40 Unions for Next Round of Talks on December 30

Farmers marching from Nashik were stopped at Rajasthan-Haryana border on Friday. Image clicked by Ronak Chhabra

Covering 1,300km, Nashik Farmers Reach Delhi to Make a Point: ‘Anger Resonates Nationwide’

Dal Singh from Rajasthan’s Gharsana pose for a picture. Image clicked by Ronak Chhabra

Small Farmers Join Protest at Rajasthan-Haryana Border with Local Demands

bharat bandh

20,000 Protest Sites, 22 States: Farmers’ ‘Bandh’ Call Leaves No Corner Untouched

Migrant Workers

Most Indian States Fail to Integrate Migrant Workers, Says Index

Covid 19 TB

Sharp Decline Seen in TB Reporting During COVID-19: Report

guj godown

Gujarat: Six Killed, Eight Injured after Chemicals Godown Collapses following Explosion

What the World Knows and Believes About India and Modi

What the World Knows and Believes About India and Modi

Statue of Unity: Tribal Activists Arrested Ahead of PM Modi’s Visit, Mobile Services Suspended in Parts

Statue of Unity: Tribal Activists Arrested Ahead of PM Modi’s Visit, Mobile Services Suspended in Parts

In Gujarat, Rural Women Perform Turmeric Ritual to Remember Hathras Victim

In Gujarat, Rural Women Perform Turmeric Ritual to Remember Hathras Victim

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

M.K. Bhadrakumar

Biden’s Idea of India and Savarkar’s is Poles Apart

23 January 2021
According to media repor
Damayantee Dhar

Gujarat: Fact-Finding Report Says Riots Have Shifted to Rural Areas

22 January 2021
Vadavali, a small village in Chanasma tehsil, Patan district, went up in smoke on March 26, 2017 after a communal riot razed it, leaving two dead,
Suhit K Sen

Legionnaire of Merit Modi Set to Lose Friend in White House

29 December 2020
There are gongs and then there are gongs.

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • farmer modi government.

    A Spectre is Haunting Modi Government

  • NetaJi

    ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Slogans Mar Netaji‘s 125 Birth Anniversary Event in Kolkata

  • tractor parade 26.

    Delhi Police Allows Tractor Parade on Jan 26; Route Details to be Decided, Say Farmer Leaders

  • Larry King, Broadcasting Icon for Half-Century, dies at 87

    Larry King, Broadcasting Icon for Half-Century, Dies at 87

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about