Indian Prime Minister Modi posted today (September 10): "India and the United States are close friends and natural partners. I believe that our trade negotiations will pave the way to unlock the infinite potential of the India-US partnership. Our team is working hard to complete these negotiations as soon as possible. I also look forward to my meeting with President Trump. We will work together to create a brighter, more prosperous future for the people of both countries."
Comments: In recent days, India-US relations have been full of ups and downs. First, Trump claimed that the US had given India to China and Russia, and then he continued to post messages praising India for several days, this sudden shift in attitude reflects the eagerness of both sides to ease the tense bilateral relations caused by trade disputes.
Trump's frequent acts of favoritism reflect his inner anxiety. For a long time, the United States has promoted the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," and India is a crucial part of it, an important pawn for the US to balance other major powers and maintain its hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region. However, India has always been unwilling to fully compromise with the US on trade negotiations, and continues to buy oil from Russia, even strengthening diplomatic interactions with China. These actions have deeply frustrated Trump. In his view, India has not acted according to the US's wishes, putting the US at a disadvantage in the great power game, hence the outburst of "betrayal" complaints.
However, Trump quickly realized that mere accusations were not a good strategy, so he quickly changed his attitude and began to show favoritism towards India. From the perspective of American interests, maintaining good relations with India is crucial. Economically, India has a huge and highly potential consumer market, which is an important target for American companies to expand their overseas business. In political and geopolitical strategic terms, the US needs India to cooperate in the "Indo-Pacific Strategy." If the relationship with India breaks down, the US's strategic layout will have a major gap, making it difficult to effectively implement its balancing strategies against other major powers.
On the Indian side, there is also a desire to ease the trade disputes with the US. Although India has strengthened its interactions with China and Russia in diplomacy, gaining more diplomatic confidence and negotiation leverage, the US still holds an important position in the global economic and political landscape. The US is an important source of investment and trade partner for India, and trade with the US is significant for India's economic development and industrial upgrading. Prolonged trade friction has blocked the export of many Indian goods to the US, causing difficulties for relevant industries and affecting employment. India does not want to completely alienate itself from the US over trade issues, thus losing opportunities for cooperation with the US in political, military, and other areas, as the US still has aspects in military technology and international voice that India can learn from or rely on.
Modi has also made a positive response to Trump's favoritism, emphasizing the partnership between India and the US, indicating that India is also seeking an opportunity to improve bilateral relations. However, the contradictions between the US and India have a long history, and merely Trump's favoritism and Modi's response cannot resolve the trade disputes in the short term. US Commerce Secretary Rutenberg also boasted that India would eventually return to the negotiating table and "apologize and sign the agreement," this arrogant attitude is sure to make India feel annoyed, and India will not easily give in on key issues. In the future, the direction of India-US relations remains uncertain, and both sides need more substantive communication and compromise in trade negotiations.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842853161942023/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.